Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2026

Through-the-Wall Blood Sampling Method to Minimize Sleep Disruption in Clinical Settings
Published on: June 13, 2025
Safety of Subcutaneous Heparin in Patients Requiring External Ventricular Drains
Aaron Kucinski1, Chloe F Looman2, Nicole Felsing3
1Field Neuroscience Institute, Saginaw, Michigan, USA.
Background And Objectives:
External ventricular drain (EVD) placement and removal to manage intracranial pressure carry an inherent risk of hemorrhage, which complicates chemoprophylactic management of venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE chemoprophylaxis with subcutaneous (SQ) heparin is effective in preventing deep venous thrombosis; however, administration to patients with EVDs may exacerbate hemorrhage risk. We assessed the risk of hemorrhage with SQ heparin administration in patients who received EVDs.
Methods:
One hundred twenty patients who underwent EVD placement received chemoprophylactic treatment for VTE with SQ heparin and were assessed for EVD tract intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH).
Results:
Of the 161 EVDs placed in patients receiving SQ heparin, EVD tract IPH occurred in 16 (9.94%) EVD placements. Patients who began SQ heparin before the procedure did not exhibit a higher rate of IPH than patients who initiated on SQ heparin shortly after placement.
Conclusion:
SQ heparin seems to be safe for chemoprophylactic management of VTE in patients with EVDs.
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Hemodialysis I: Introduction
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia
One of the advantages of...
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications