Perioperative consultative hematology: can you clear my patient for a procedure?

Periprocedural management of antithrombotics is a common but challenging clinical scenario that renders patients vulnerable to potential adverse events such as bleeding and thrombosis. Over the past decade, periprocedural antithrombotic approaches have changed considerably with the advent of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), as well as a paradigm shift away from bridging in many warfarin patients. Successfully navigating this high-risk period relies on a number of individualized patient assessments conducted within a framework of standardized, systematic approaches. It also requires a thorough understanding of antithrombotic pharmacokinetics, multidisciplinary coordination of care, and comprehensive patient education and empowerment. In this article, we provide clinicians with a practical, stepwise approach to periprocedural management of antithrombotic agents through case-based examples of relevant clinical scenarios

COVID-19 and thrombosis: searching for evidence

Early in the pandemic, COVID-19-related increases in rates of venous and arterial thromboembolism were seen. Many observational studies suggested a benefit of prophylactic anticoagulation for hospitalized patients using various dosing strategies. Randomized trials were initiated to compare the efficacy of these different options in acutely ill and critically ill inpatients as the concept of immune-mediated inflammatory microthrombosis emerged. We present a case-based review of how we approach thromboembolic prophylaxis in COVID-19 and briefly discuss the epidemiology, the pathophysiology, and the rare occurrence of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia

Treatment of Acute Venous Thromboembolism

Acute venous thromboembolism is a common disease seen by nearly all hospitalists. The advent of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) several decades ago ushered in the era of early hospital discharge and home treatment. More recently, the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have further simplified outpatient treatment and some offer treatment without parenteral therapy. Use of DOACs for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism is emerging and is a welcome evolution of care to spare oncologic patients the burden of daily LMWH injections

Contemporary NSTEMI management: the role of the hospitalist.

Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is defined as elevated cardiac biomarkers of necrosis in the absence of persistent ST-segment elevation in the setting of anginal symptoms or other acute event. It carries a poorer prognosis than most ST-segment elevation events, owing to the typical comorbidity burden of the older NSTEMI patients as well as diverse etiologies that add complexity to therapeutic decision-making. It may result from an acute atherothrombotic event (\u27Type 1\u27) or as the result of other causes of mismatch of myocardial oxygen supply and demand (\u27Type 2\u27). Regardless of type and other clinical factors, the hospital medicine specialist is increasingly responsible for managing or coordinating the care of these patients. Following published guidelines for risk stratification and basing anti-anginal, anticoagulant, antiplatelet, other pharmacologic therapies, and overall management approach on that individualized patient risk assessment can be expected to result in better short- and long-term clinical outcomes, including near-term readmission and recurrent events. We present here a review of the evidence basis and expert commentary to assist the hospitalist in achieving those improved outcomes in NSTEMI. Given that the Society for Hospital Medicine cites care of patients with acute coronary syndrome as a core competency for hospitalists, it is essential that those specialists stay current on optimal NSTEMI care

Spontaneous Thyroid Hemorrhage on Chronic Anticoagulation Therapy.

Even though highly vascularized, the thyroid gland rarely has spontaneous bleeding. Bleeding into the thyroid gland can result in potentially lethal acute airway compromise. This case report describes an elderly patient on warfarin for atrial fibrillation, who presented with swelling on the right side of her neck causing acute airway obstruction. An urgent computed tomography of the neck showed an enlarging hemorrhage into the right lobe of the thyroid gland. She was initially intubated for airway protection and her anticoagulation was reversed to stop the bleeding. She was closely monitored in the intensive care unit. After an uncomplicated tracheal extubation and recovery, she was discharged and scheduled for an elective total thyroidectomy. We desire that physicians be aware of this rare, potentially lethal bleeding complication

ADVERSE EVENTS IN LOW VERSUS NORMAL BODY WEIGHT PATIENTS PRESCRIBED APIXABAN OR RIVAROXABAN FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Background: Clinical trials comparing direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to warfarin included only a small number of patients that weighed less than 60 kilograms (kg). The safety and efficacy of DOACs in low weight adult patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is still unclear. Published data is not only sparse but have mixed outcomes. Therapy with DOACs may increase bleeding and/or clotting risk with uncertain antithrombotic benefit in low weight patients. Objective: To assess bleeding and thrombotic event rates for patients with AF that are prescribed a DOAC and have a low body weight (less than 60 kg) versus patients that have a normal body weight (60 to 100 kg). Methods: Within the Michigan Anticoagulation Quality Improvement Initiative (MAQI2), we analyzed data for patients with AF prescribed apixaban or rivaroxaban from 2017 through 2021 who had at least 12 months of follow-up. Patients were excluded if they were prescribed dosing different from package insert instructions. Patients were divided by weight into low (less than 60 kg) and normal (60 to 100 kg) cohorts. Assessments included rates of thrombotic events, major bleeding events (International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis [ISTH]), and non-major bleeding events requiring an Emergency Department (ED) visit. Patient characteristics were compared using Chi-square and t-test. Bleeding event rates were adjusted for age, gender, and diabetes mellitus and thrombotic event rates were adjusted by CHA2DS2-VASc score. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted adverse event rates to control for potentially confounding covariates (apixaban only due to few patients prescribed rivaroxaban). Results: A total of 616 patients met the inclusion criteria: 83 (13.5%) low weight and 533 (86.5%) normal weight. Most patients were prescribed apixaban (88.5%) with the low weight cohort more often prescribed the lower dose of apixaban (55% versus 6.2%, p\u3c0.0001). The low weight cohort had a higher mean age (78.9% versus 74.4%, p\u3c0.0002), proportion of females (94% versus 54%, p\u3c0.0001) and CHA2DS2-VASc score (4.4 (1.6) versus 3.9 (1.6)), but a lower proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus (9.6% versus 25.1%, p\u3c0.0018) [Table 1]. In the unadjusted analysis of patients prescribed apixaban, non-major bleeding events requiring an ED visit (10.8 per 100 patient-years versus 7.4 per 100 patient-years, p\u3c0.0001), occurred more often in the low versus normal weight patient cohort [Table 2]. However, adjusted analysis found no statistically significant difference in events in low and normal weight cohorts prescribed apixaban [Table 2]. Comparisons within patients prescribed rivaroxaban could not be made due to a small sample size of low weight patients. Conclusions: Among low weight patients with AF the use of apixaban was not associated with bleeding (major and non-major) or thrombotic events after adjusting for potential confounding covariates. Larger studies may offer further insight into the overall safety and efficacy of DOAC therapy in these patients

Examining warfarin underutilization rates in patients with atrial fibrillation: Detailed chart review essential to capture contraindications to warfarin therapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Atrial fibrillation affects an estimated 2.5 million Americans and incurs an average annual stroke risk of 4.5% per year. Despite warfarin reducing stroke risk by approximately 66%, prior studies show warfarin usage rates to be about 50%. However, the methods that define warfarin as "inappropriate underutilization" might not be sensitive enough to pick up relative contraindications. We assessed the inappropriate underutilization of warfarin in atrial fibrillation patients at our hospital by abstracting individual patient charts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Medical records were reviewed to determine stroke risk factors, warfarin use, and documented contraindications to warfarin use in 364 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Amongst 364 atrial fibrillation patients, 54.6% received warfarin anticoagulation. Overall, 29.5 % of patients had documented reasons for not prescribing warfarin. Primary reasons listed by treating physicians included: gastrointestinal bleed 10.7%, secondary/transient atrial fibrillation 8.2%, and fall risk 6.3%. Only 7.1% of the patients had no documented reasons for the lack of warfarin use.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Consistent with previous reports, 45.4% of patients in this atrial fibrillation cohort were not prescribed warfarin. However, after reviewing medical charts for documented reasons why warfarin was not used, the inappropriate underutilization rate was only 7.1%. These findings suggest that studies utilizing administrative database and ICD-9 CM coding might overestimate warfarin underutilization.</p

Factors Associated With Risk of Postdischarge Thrombosis in Patients With COVID-19

Importance: COVID-19 is associated with a high incidence of thrombotic events; however, the need for extended thromboprophylaxis after hospitalization remains unclear. Objective: To quantify the rate of postdischarge arterial and venous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19, identify the factors associated with the risk of postdischarge venous thromboembolism, and evaluate the association of postdischarge anticoagulation use with venous thromboembolism incidence. Design, Setting, and Participants: This is a cohort study of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 confirmed by a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Eligible patients were enrolled at 5 hospitals of the Henry Ford Health System from March 1 to November 30, 2020. Data analysis was performed from April to June 2021. Exposures: Anticoagulant therapy after discharge. Main Outcomes and Measures: New onset of symptomatic arterial and venous thromboembolic events within 90 days after discharge from the index admission for COVID-19 infection were identified using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes. Results: In this cohort study of 2832 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the mean (SD) age was 63.4 (16.7) years (IQR, 53-75 years), and 1347 patients (47.6%) were men. Thirty-six patients (1.3%) had postdischarge venous thromboembolic events (16 pulmonary embolism, 18 deep vein thrombosis, and 2 portal vein thrombosis). Fifteen (0.5%) postdischarge arterial thromboembolic events were observed (1 transient ischemic attack and 14 acute coronary syndrome). The risk of venous thromboembolism decreased with time (Mann-Kendall trend test, P \u3c .001), with a median (IQR) time to event of 16 (7-43) days. There was no change in the risk of arterial thromboembolism with time (Mann-Kendall trend test, P = .37), with a median (IQR) time to event of 37 (10-63) days. Patients with a history of venous thromboembolism (odds ratio [OR], 3.24; 95% CI, 1.34-7.86), peak dimerized plasmin fragment D (D-dimer) level greater than 3 μg/mL (OR, 3.76; 95% CI, 1.86-7.57), and predischarge C-reactive protein level greater than 10 mg/dL (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.45-6.29) were more likely to experience venous thromboembolism after discharge. Prescriptions for therapeutic anticoagulation at discharge were associated with reduced incidence of venous thromboembolism (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.04-0.75; P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance: Although extended thromboprophylaxis in unselected patients with COVID-19 is not supported, these findings suggest that postdischarge anticoagulation may be considered for high-risk patients who have a history of venous thromboembolism, peak D-dimer level greater than 3 μg/mL, and predischarge C-reactive protein level greater than 10 mg/dL, if their bleeding risk is low