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Post-traumatic thrombo-embolic complications in polytrauma patients
Philipp Lichte1, Philipp Kobbe, Khalid Almahmoud
1Department of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany, plichte@ukaachen.de.
International Orthopaedics
|February 19, 2015
Summary
Thrombo-embolic events (TE) significantly increase mortality and hospital stay in severely injured trauma patients. Advanced age and multiple surgeries are key risk factors for developing these life-threatening complications.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Thrombo-embolic events (TE) are serious, life-threatening complications following trauma.
- Understanding the incidence and risk factors for TE in severely injured patients is crucial for improving outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of arterial and venous thrombo-embolic events (TE) in severely injured trauma patients.
- To identify independent risk factors associated with TE development in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the TraumaRegister DGU® (TR-DGU) database (2005-2012).
- Inclusion of severely injured adult trauma patients with screening for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke.
- Utilized univariate and multivariate regression analyses to assess outcomes and risk factors.
Main Results:
- A total of 1122 (2.8%) out of 40,846 patients developed TE.
- TE was associated with increased ICU and hospital length of stay, mechanical ventilation duration, multiple organ failure, and sepsis.
- Independent risk factors included injury severity, pelvic/head injuries, and multiple operations; age (≥60) and male gender were significant for PE.
Conclusions:
- Thrombo-embolic events significantly increase mortality and resource utilization (ICU/hospital stay) in trauma patients.
- Advanced age and undergoing multiple operations are the most significant independent risk factors for TE development.
- These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies in high-risk trauma populations.
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