[Deep Vein Thrombosis in Intensive Care Patients with COVID-19 Infection - Impact of a Standardised Therapeutic Regimen]. / Tiefe Beinvenenthrombosen bei Intensivpatienten mit COVID-19-Infektion ­ Einfluss eines standardisierten Therapieregimes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that the risk of deep vein thrombosis is greater in patients with COVID-19 infection. We have now investigated whether a standardised therapy can reduce the risk of DVT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After establishing standard therapy with anticoagulation, steroids and convalescent plasma, we screened 20 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia for DVT by ultrasound examination. The comparison group contained 20 COVID patients with inconsistent therapy, who were examined for the presence of thrombosis during the first wave. RESULTS: In the current patient population with standard therapy, we could not detect any thrombosis, and in the prior patients group only 25% of patients developed DVT. Pulmonary embolism was found in one patient in the first cohort and two in the second. CONCLUSION: The risk of DVT could be reduced through anticoagulation, and administration of steroids and convalescent plasma. The specific significance of the individual components has not yet been clarified. Since bleeding is a rarely observed in SARS-CoV-2 infections, a generous indication for anticoagulation seems to be justified.

[Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis in intensive care unit patients with CoViD-19 infections?-Preliminary data]. / Erhöhtes Risiko für tiefe Beinvenenthrombosen bei Intensivpatienten mit CoViD-19-Infektion? ­ Erste Daten.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in CoViD-19 patients in intensive care units (ICU) has so far been investigated in only a few studies. Prospective comparative studies with non-CoViD-19 ICU patients are completely lacking. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the incidence of DVT in ICU patients with CoViD-19 compared to non-CoViD-19 ICU patients who were treated in the University Hospital Augsburg during the same period. In addition, the aim was to investigate what type of anticoagulation was present in CoViD-19 patients at the time the DVT occurred and to what extent DVT is associated with increased mortality in this patient population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective single center study, which was conducted between 18 April 2020 and 30 April 2020, 20 SARS-CoV2 positive patients were compared with 20 non-CoVid-19 patients in the ICU with respect to the occurrence of DVT. For this purpose, demographic data, laboratory parameters, and clinical outcomes were recorded and evaluated. RESULTS: The rate of DVT in the investigated patient collective was markedly higher in patients with SARS-CoV2 (CoViD-19 patients 20% vs. non-CoViD-19 patients 5%). Both DVT and elevated D­dimer levels were associated with increased mortality in the present study. CONCLUSION: We recommend the determination of D­dimer levels and, in the case of elevated levels, the broad indication for compression sonography of the deep leg veins on admission of patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV2. In this way DVT in the setting of CoViD-19 can be recognized early and therapeutic anticoagulation can be started. All inpatient CoViD-19 patients should receive thrombosis prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin. Further studies on point of care methods (TEG®, ROTEM®) for the detection of hypercoagulability in SARS-CoV2 are necessary.