Intermittent Pneumatic Compression in Surgical Patients at Extremely-high Risk for Venous Thromboembolism...
Venous ThromboembolismVenous ThrombosisThe aim of the study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis by the combination of graduated compression stockings (GCS), standard doses of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) and sequential compression device (SCD) in the mixed group of surgical patients at high and extremely high risk for venous thromboembolism.
Evaluation of Anti-Xa Levels in Surgery Patients Receiving Weight-based Heparin
Deep Vein ThrombosisPulmonary Embolism1 moreThe purpose of this study is to determine if weight-based heparin infusions at a rate of 10 units/kg/hour are sufficient to maintain a target anti-Xa of 0.1-0.35 IU/mL for VTE prophylaxis in patients undergoing microvascular surgery. Additionally, a pilot protocol has been developed to titrate these heparin infusions to ensure patients have sufficient VTE prophylaxis. All patients will be enrolled in the observational arm of the study and receive anti-Xa level monitoring. Patients with out-of-range anti-Xa levels will cross over to the interventional arm of the study and receive real time heparin infusion dose adjustments per the pilot protocol. The primary outcome measured will be the percentage of patients with anti-Xa levels in the target range of 0.1-0.35 IU/mL while on a heparin infusion at 10 units/kg/hour.
Twice Daily Enoxaparin Prophylaxis in Reconstructive Surgery Patients
Venous ThromboembolismDeep Venous Thrombosis1 moreBlood clots that form in the extremities (deep venous thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolus) are feared complications of reconstructive surgery. One in ten patients with symptomatic pulmonary embolus will be dead in 60 minutes. Patients with deep venous thrombosis can develop the post-thrombotic syndrome, known to be a major driver of poor quality of life. These phenomena, broadly known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), have substantial downstream ramifications, and the US Surgeon General and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), among others, have underscored the importance of VTE prevention in surgical patients. Reconstructive surgery, most commonly performed to fix traumatic injuries or defects after cancer excision, often involves borrowing tissue from adjacent or distant areas on the body; reconstructive surgery patients can routinely have surgical injury involving 20% or more of their total body surface area. Injury and resultant inflammation are known to increase metabolism of certain drugs, including those used to prevent VTE after surgery. Enoxaparin is a blood-thinning medication that decreases likelihood of blood clot formation. Previous research has shown that reconstructive surgery patients who are given enoxaparin after surgery are less likely to develop VTE. However, despite receiving of a standard dose of enoxaparin, many patients still develop this life-threatening complication. The investigators believe that patients metabolize enoxaparin differently based on the degree of surgical injury created during reconstruction, and seek to critically examine enoxaparin metabolism in reconstructive surgery patients. The proposed research will evaluate how enoxaparin affects the blood based on standard, ASPS-recommended dosing after reconstructive surgeries; the investigators will also examine whether the extent of surgical injury alters metabolism as well. Enoxaparin effectiveness will be tracked using anti-Factor Xa (aFXa) levels. If subtherapeutic aFXa levels are observed, the study will also design, implement and test a clinical enoxaparin dose-adjustment protocol to achieve appropriate post-operative aFXa levels. Further research based on these data will examine reduction in VTE risk when aFXa-driven enoxaparin dosing is used.
Real-time Anti-Factor Xa Measurements in Surgical Patients to Examine Enoxaparin Metabolism and...
Deep Venous ThrombosisPulmonary Embolus1 moreVenous thromboembolism (VTE) encompasses deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus, and is the proximate cause of death in over 100,000 hospitalized patients per year. This project will critically examine the pharmacokinetics of prophylactic doses of enoxaparin in surgical patients, and will evaluate how alteration of enoxaparin dose magnitude and frequency affects peak and trough aFXa levels as well as risk for re-operative hematoma. If subtherapeutic aFXa levels are observed, the study will design, implement and test a clinical protocol to optimize post-operative aFXa levels. Although not an explicit Aim, this study will also provide important preliminary data on VTE rates in surgical patients with in range and out of range aFXa levels.
Screening for Occult Malignancy in Patients With Idiopathic Venous Thromboembolism
Venous ThromboembolismDeep Vein Thrombosis1 moreBlood clots in leg veins (deep vein thrombosis) or lung arteries (pulmonary embolism) that happen for no reason (i.e. unexplained) are both called "unprovoked venous thromboembolism" (VTE). These unexplained blood clots can be the first symptom of cancer. Up to 10% of patients with unexplained blood clots will be diagnosed with cancer within one year of their blood clot diagnosis. These cancers can be found anywhere in the body although the relationship appears stronger with the pancreas, ovary and liver. Cancer testing in patients with blood clots is controversial. There is presently a wide variety of expert opinions and practices. Previous studies showed that a limited cancer screen including a medical history, physical examination, basic blood work and chest X-ray, will find about 90% of cancers. More recent and better designed studies showed that the limited cancer screen misses many cancers and needs to be improved. More extensive cancer testing may find more cancers but is potentially uncomfortable for patients, costs a lot of money and involves a lot of people. The "comprehensive computed tomography" is less uncomfortable, inexpensive, radiological test made to find many cancers at once. Thus, the scientific question to be asked is: Does a "comprehensive computed tomography" miss less cancers than a limited cancer screen in patients with blood clots? The main goal of this study is to find out if a "comprehensive computed tomography" misses less cancers than a limited cancer screen in patients with unexplained blood clots. The second goal of the study is 1) to find out if a "comprehensive computed tomography" finds more "curable" cancers than the limited cancer screen; 2) to find out if the patients diagnosed with cancer are still alive and cancer-free after one year (i.e. the patients with curable cancer were treated and are doing well); 3) to prove that a negative "comprehensive computed tomography" means that the patient will not have cancer and; 4) to find out if a "comprehensive computed tomography" is well tolerated and safe for patients.
Safer Warfarin Treatment
Atrial FibrillationVenous Thrombosis2 moreThe study is a national multicenter prospective observational study, including 200 patients. The main purpose of this study is to explore in more detail the influence of genetic variability (CYP enzymes and vitamin K dependent proteins) and dietary vitamin K status on warfarin dosing, clinical effect and adverse events with emphasis on the initial phase of treatment. The hypothesis is that genetic variability concerning CYP enzymes and vitamin K dependent proteins predict dosing and adverse events during warfarin treatment. The main aim is to individualize warfarin therapy and establish a treatment algorithm based on genotype and dietary vitamin K status to make the anticoagulation therapy with warfarin more secure.
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Fondaparinux for the Prevention of Venous Blood Clots...
ThrombosisVenousThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fondaparinux in comparison with a heparin (nadroparin) in preventing deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the leg veins), whether symptomatic or detected by ultrasound, and pulmonary embolism (blood clots that migrate to the lungs) in patients with leg injuries below the knee that require a cast or other type of immobilization but not surgery.
Effectiveness of the Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori and an Inhibitor of Pump With Proton Versus...
Positive Helicobacter Pylori SerologyCoronary Thrombosis1 moreLow dose of aspirin is the main cause of gastro-duodenal ulcer. The best prevention is not definite particularly in patients without history of ulcer and infected by H. pylori.The aim of the study is to evaluate the gastric damage induced by aspirin in patients with H. pylori infection but who have any history of ulcer.
Full-Leg vs Below-Knee Elastic Stockings for Prevention of the Post-Thrombotic Syndrome
Deep Vein ThrombosisProspective controlled randomized clinical trial. Consecutive patients with acute proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities, with or without contemporary manifestations of pulmonary embolism, are randomized to receive either a below-knee or a full-leg graduated compression (30-40 mm Hg at the ankle) elastic stocking for prevention of the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). All patients are followed up to three years to assess the development of the PTS, defined according to a validated clinical score (the Villalta scale). The rate of PTS is compared between the two study groups. In addition, there is an assessment of patients' compliance and tolerability of the two different devices.
The STOP CLOT Pilot Study: Study of Low Molecular Weight Heparin in High Risk Cesarean Section
Deep Vein ThrombosisVenous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the most common cause of maternal death in the developed world. VTE includes two conditions, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT refers to a blood clot that has formed in a deep vein, often in the legs and/or pelvis and PE refers to the passage of these clots into the lungs (which can be fatal). VTE is up to 10 times more common in pregnant women than non-pregnant women of comparable age. More than a third of pregnancy related VTE occur during the 6 weeks after delivery. When compared with vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery further increases the risk of pregnancy associated VTE by three-fold. A medication called low molecular weight heparin is sometimes prescribed during pregnancy and after delivery to prevent VTE. However, clinical practice varies because there hasn't been adequate research to determine that this medication is safe and effective at preventing VTE during this time. The potential benefits of the medication must also be weighed against its cost and possible side effects. The researchers are conducting a study that will assess the effectiveness and safety of low molecular weight heparin in women who are at moderate to high risk of VTE after a cesarean section. They will monitor these women to determine if those who received the medication have fewer blood clots. Participants will also be monitored closely for any side effects.