Cancer patients requiring interruption of long-term warfarin because of surgery or chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia: the use of fixed sub-therapeutic doses of low-molecular weight heparin.

No data are available regarding the management of cancer patients requiring interruption of long-term vitamin-K antagonist (VKA) therapy. For this purpose, we tested the efficacy and safety of fixed doses of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in substitution of VKA because of invasive procedures or chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. In cancer patients on VKA, therapy was discontinued 5 ± 1 days before surgery or chemotherapy. Heparin was given at prophylactic dosage in patients at low risk and at fixed subtherapeutic doses (3,800 or 4,000 UI anti-FXa, b.i.d.) in those at high-risk for thrombosis. LMWH was reinitiated 12 hr after surgery and VKA the day after. In patients receiving chemotherapy, LMWH was reinitiated 12/24 hr after obtaining a stable platelet count ≥ 30,000 mmc(3) and VKA after a stable platelet count ≥ 50,000 mmc(3) . Thromboembolism and major bleeding events were recorded from the time of VKA suspension to 30 ± 2 days postprocedure or until the next chemotherapy. Overall, 156 patients (56.4% at low risk and 43.5% at high risk for thrombosis) were enrolled; 34.6% underwent major surgery, 40.4% nonmajor surgery, and 25% chemotherapy. Thrombotic events occurred in five patients [3.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41-7.27], four belonging to the high-risk and one to the low-risk group. Major bleeding occurred in five patients (3.2%, 95 CI: 1.41-7.27), all belonging to the high-risk group (three during major surgery and two during chemotherapy). In conclusion, LMWH given at fixed subtherapeutic is a feasible and relatively safe approach for bridging therapy in cancer patients on long-term VK

Ultrasonography-guided central venous catheterisation in haematological patients with severe thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: Cannulation of the internal jugular vein (CVC) is a blind surface landmark-guided technique that could be potentially dangerous in patients with very low platelet counts. In such patients, ultrasonography (US)-guided CVC may be a valid approach. There is a lack of published data on the efficacy and safety of urgent US-guided CVC performed in haematological patients with severe thrombocytopenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the safety of urgent CVC procedures in haematological patients including those with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <30×10(9)/L). From January 1999 to June 2009, 431 CVC insertional procedures in 431 consecutive patients were evaluated. Patients were included in the study if they had a haematological disorder and required urgent CVC insertion. Patients were placed in Trendelenburg's position, an 18-gauge needle and guide-wire were advanced under real-time US guidance into the last part of the internal jugular vein; central venous cannulation of the internal jugular vein was performed using the Seldinger technique in all the procedures. Major and minor procedure-related complications were recorded. RESULTS: All 431 patients studied had haematological disorders: 39 had severe thrombocytopenia, refractory to platelet transfusion (group 1), while 392 did not have severe thrombocytopenia (group 2). The general characteristics of the patients in the two groups differed only for platelet count. The average time taken to perform the procedure was 4 minutes. Success rates were 97.4% and 97.9% in group 1 and group 2, respectively. No major complications occurred in either group. DISCUSSION: US-guided CVC is a safe and effective approach in haematological patients with severe thrombocytopenia requiring urgent cannulation for life support, plasma-exchange, chemotherapy and transfusio