Vascular Spectrum of Imaging Findings in COVID-19: Ischemic, Hemorrhagic, and Thromboembolic Complications

Abstract Ischemic strokes secondary to occlusion of large vessels have been described in patients with COVID-19. Also, venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism have been related to the disease. Vascular occlusion may be associated with a prothrombotic state due to COVID-19-related coagulopathy and endotheliopathy. Intracranial hemorrhagic lesions can additionally be seen in these patients. The causative mechanism of hemorrhage could be associated with anticoagulant therapy or factors such as coagulopathy and endotheliopathy. We report on cases of ischemic, thrombotic, and hemorrhagic complications in six patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed typical SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia findings in all the cases, which were all confirmed by either serology or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

Riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso y uso adecuado de terapia tromboprofiláctica / Risk of venous thromboembolism and adequate use of thromboprophylactic therapy

INTRODUCCIÓN. El tromboembolismo venoso es una complicación prevenible en pacientes hospitalizados y la estratificación del riesgo mejora la seguridad del paciente, su valoración evita su ocurrencia. OBJETIVO. Evaluar el riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso y uso adecuado de terapia tromboprofiláctica en pacientes hospitalizados. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Estudio analítico transversal. Población de 412 y muestra de 373 pacientes encuestados, distribuidos: 186 en Unidades Clínicas, 163 en Unidades Quirúrgicas y 24 en Obstetricia del Hospital de Especialidades Carlos Andrade Marín, desde el 21 al 23 de febrero del 2019. La tabulación y análisis de datos se realizó en el programa estadístico International Business Machines Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, versión 21. RESULTADOS. Se categorizó como alto riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso al 76,67% (286; 373) de pacientes; 49,46% (144; 163) postquirúrgicos y 69,40% (129; 286) clínicos de alto riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso, recibiendo tromboprofilaxis farmacológica de forma adecuada el 38,80% (56; 144) de quirúrgicos y 57,40% (74; 129) de clínicos. CONCLUSIÓN. Se determinó que el uso de tromboprofilaxis no farmacológica y farmacológica con heparina de bajo peso molecular en pacientes hospitalizados con riesgo de tromboembolismo venoso, fue bajo.

INTRODUCTION. Venous thromboembolism is a preventable complication in hospitalized patients and risk stratification improves patient safety, its ocurrence is prevented by its assessment. OBJECTIVE. To evaluate the risk of venous thromboembolism and ade-quate use of thromboprophylactic therapy in hospitalized patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Cross-sectional analytical study. Population of 412 and sample of 373 patients surveyed, distributed: 186 in clinical wards, 163 in surgical wards and 24 in obstetrics of the Carlos Andrade Marín Specialties Hospital, from february 21 to 23, 2019. Data tabulation and analysis was performed in the statistical program International Business Machines Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21. RESULTS. 76,67% (286; 373) of patients were categorized as high risk of venous thromboembolism; 49,46% (144; 163) post-surgical and 69,40% (129; 286) clinical patients as high risk of venous thromboembo-lism, with 38,80% (56; 144) of surgical and 57,40% (74; 129) of clinical patients receiving adequate pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS. The use of nonpharma-cological and pharmacological thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin in hospitalized patients at risk of venous thromboembolism was low.

Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Protocol Experience of 2000 Cases in Total Knee Arthroplasty* / Protocolo de prevenção do tromboembolismo venoso Experiência de 2000 casos em artroplastia total de joelho*

Abstract Objective The objective of the present study is to evaluate the impact evaluate the impact of an institutional protocol on a tertiary hospital for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in 2005 patients submitted to primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Data from medical records of patients submitted TKA before (n= 1,115) and after (n= 890) the implementation of the institutional protocol, totaling 2,005 patients, were retrospectively reported. Demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were analyzed. Results There was no significant change in the cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (1.6% versus 2.4%; p= 0.211). There was an increase in cases of pulmonary embolism (PE) (0.2% versus 0.8% p= 0.049). Conclusion Despite the implementation of the prevention protocol, no reduction in the studied events was observed. The small global incidence makes further studies with larger series necessary to confirm or rule out these findings.

Resumo Objetivo O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar o impacto de um protocolo institucional em um hospital terciário na prevenção do tromboembolismo venoso em 2.005 pacientes submetidos a artroplastia total primária de joelho. Métodos Os dados dos prontuários de pacientes submetidos a artroplastia total do joelho antes (n= 1.115) e após (n= 890) a implantação do protocolo institucional, totalizando 2.005 pacientes, foram relatados retrospectivamente. Dados demográficos, comorbidades e desfechos foram analisados. Resultados Não houve alteração significativa nos casos de trombose venosa profunda (TVP) (1,6% versus 2,4%; p= 0,211). Houve um aumento nos casos de embolia pulmonar (EP) (0,2% versus 0,8%; p= 0,049). Conclusão Apesar da implementação do protocolo de prevenção, não houve redução nos eventos estudados. A pequena incidência global faz com que novos estudos, com séries maiores, sejam necessários para confirmar ou descartar esses achados.

Thromboembolism and bleeding risk scores and predictors of cardiac death in a population with atrial fibrillation / Escores de risco de tromboembolismo e de sangramento e preditores de morte cardíaca em uma população com fibrilação atrial

Abstract Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia, with risk of systemic embolism and death. It presents rheumatic etiology in up to 32% of developing countries, whose anticoagulation and evolution data are scarce. Objectives: to determine the predictors of cardiac death considering the clinical profile, thromboembolism and bleeding scores of patients with AF of a single center, with high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease. Methods: 302 patients with AF were studied, mean age 58.1 years; 161 women; 96 pts with rheumatic etiology. Patients underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation, measurement of risk scores and the mean follow-up of 12.8 months. Results: 174 were using warfarin. The averages of the HAS-BLED and ATRIA scores were 1.4 and 1.2, respectively. Percent time in therapeutic range of international normalized ratio was 45.8%. Thirty patients (9.9%) had cardiac death and 41 had some type of bleeding due to warfarin. By univariate analysis, there was statistical significance between cardiac death and permanent AF, blood pressure, systolic dysfunction, R2CHADS2, CCS, EHRA and HAS-BLED. There was no association with valvular AF. By multivariate analysis, systemic arterial and pulmonary artery pressures, classification CCS and systolic dysfunction showed statistical significance. Conclusions: There was no association between cardiac death and valvular AF. Independent predictors of cardiac death were low measures of blood pressure, higher score CCS classification and the presence of systolic ventricular dysfunction.

Resumo Fundamento: A fibrilação atrial (FA) é uma arritmia comum, com risco de embolia sistêmica e morte. Apresenta etiologia reumática em até 32% dos países em desenvolvimento, cujos dados de anticoagulação e evolução são escassos. Objetivos: Verificar as variáveis preditoras de morte cardíaca (MC) conforme o perfil clínico, os escores de tromboembolismo e de sangramento dos pacientes com FA de uma única instituição universitária, com alta prevalência de cardiopatia reumática. Métodos: Foram estudados 302 pts com FA, média de idade 58,1 anos; 161 mulheres; 96 pts com etiologia reumática. Os pts foram submetidos à avaliação clínica e laboratorial, ao cálculo dos escores de risco e ao seguimento clínico médio de 12,8 meses. Resultados: 174 pts estavam em uso de varfarina. As médias dos escores HAS-BLED e ATRIA foram de 1,4 e de 1,2, respectivamente. O cálculo da fração dos valores da razão normalizada internacional dentro do intervalo terapêutico foi de 45,8%. Houve MC em 30 pts (9,9%) e 41 apresentaram algum tipo de hemorragia em decorrência do uso de varfarina. Pela análise univariada, houve significância estatística entre MC e FA permanente, pressões arteriais, disfunção sistólica, R2CHADS2, CCS, EHRA e HAS-BLED. Não houve associação com FA valvar. Por meio da análise multivariada, a pressão arterial sistêmica e da artéria pulmonar, a classificação CCS e a disfunção sistólica apresentavam significância estatística. Conclusões: Não houve associação entre MC e FA valvar. Os preditores independentes de MC foram medidas baixas de pressão arterial, escores mais elevados da classificação CCS e a presença de disfunção ventricular sistólica.