ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cancer and cancer-related treatments are significant independent risk factors for malignant hematology (MH) patients in developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). Treatment of VTE in MH patients at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is predominantly initiated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in accordance with guidelines. While guidelines recommend against LMWH use in patients with thrombocytopenia, prescribers may order LMWH conditionally based on platelet values. Currently, there is a lack of consistent practice with variation in both the use of conditional orders as well as the threshold of platelet values for conditional orders. The objectives of the study were to (a) describe the use of conditionally ordered LMWH based on platelet values; (b) determine its safety by measuring administration concordance with conditional orders and bleeding event rates during inpatient admission; and (c) determine its efficacy by measuring the rate of worsening VTE or recurrence during inpatient admission.

METHODS: Electronic records of MH inpatients admitted between January 2017 and December 2019 and who were administered at least one dose of an LMWH for the treatment of VTE were screened.

RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients were screened to obtain 50 eligible patients with a median age of 59 years (SD = ±18.8 years). The most frequent MH diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (30%). Sixty percent (n = 30) of patients received conditional orders. Out of 571 administrations, 543 (95%) were administered concordantly (Χ2(1) = 472, p< 0.0001). In this group of patients, 8 patients had either documented bleeding or experienced a drop in hemoglobin >10 g/L within a 72 h time frame. No patients experienced a recurrent VTE during inpatient treatment (for up to 40 days post-admission).

CONCLUSIONS: It appears that conditionally ordered LMWH can be concordantly administered and is safe and effective in the treatment of VTE in MH patients experiencing thrombocytopenia. There were no reports of worsening or new VTE in our small sample.

PMID:37501557 | DOI:10.1177/10781552231189695

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

How to Treat Today? Oral and Facial Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism

Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Jul 17;16(7):1011. doi: 10.3390/ph16071011.

ABSTRACT

The exact incidence of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (CA-VTE) in patients with oral and facial cancer (OFC) is not exactly known, and this risk is empirically considered to be low. However, this suggestion may result in disease underdiagnosis, prolong the initiation of adequate therapy, and consecutively increase CA-VTE-related morbidity and mortality. In addition, there might be specific clinical problems in the treatment of CA-VTE in patients with oral and facial cancer, such as swallowing difficulties, that might limit the possibilities of oral anticoagulation. Finally, there are limited data regarding the optimal treatment of CA-VTE in patients with oral and facial cancer, and this includes data on novel therapeutic strategies, including the use of direct oral anticoagulants. This article reviews current data on the optimal treatment strategy for CA-VTE in patients with OFC.

PMID:37513923 | PMC:PMC10385582 | DOI:10.3390/ph16071011

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Preoperative D-dimer Value and Lower Limb Venous Ultrasound for Deep Venous Thrombosis Prevents Postoperative Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery: A Retrospective Study

J Anus Rectum Colon. 2023 Jul 25;7(3):159-167. doi: 10.23922/jarc.2022-071. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Preoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) can cause potentially life-threatening postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Lower limb venous ultrasound (LLVU) is a modality that can detect DVT. However, the threshold for performing preoperative LLVU in the population undergoing colorectal resection is controversial. In this context, we evaluated whether a preoperative D-dimer value can identify patients who benefit from LLVU from the perspective of preventing postoperative symptomatic VTE.

METHODS: Patients undergoing colorectal resection in our institute from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively enrolled (n=2071). We divided the patients into two groups: the clinical indication group (CG: including patients from 2013 to 2016, n=875) and the D-dimer-orientated group (DG: including patients from 2017 to 2020, n=1196). In the CG, LLVU was performed when DVT was clinically suspected; in the DG, preoperative LLVU was performed in patients with a preoperative D-dimer>1.0 μg/ml.

RESULTS: In the surveyed period, 277 LLVUs were performed, among which DVT was detected in 34 cases (12.3%). In the CG, DVT was detected in 0.7% of patients, whereas in the DG, it was detected in 2.3% of patients. Postoperative symptomatic VTE was significantly reduced in the DG at both 3 and 6 months after surgery (p=0.041 and 0.020, respectively). Moreover, Multivariate analysis showed that a past medical history of PE and treatment following the CG protocol were independent risk factors for postoperative symptomatic VTE within 6 months of surgery (p<0.0001

CONCLUSIONS: LLVU in patients with a preoperative D-dimer>1.0 μg/ml is a useful method to prevent postoperative symptomatic VTE.

PMID:37496573 | PMC:PMC10368439 | DOI:10.23922/jarc.2022-071

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Endobronchial Ultrasound for the Screening of Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Suspected Lung Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study

Respiration. 2023 Jul 27:1-7. doi: 10.1159/000531485. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with lung cancer exhibit increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE). While the contrast phase of computed tomography of the chest in the diagnostic work-up of suspected chest malignancy does not allow reliable detection of PE, it may be feasible to screen for present PE during endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) examination.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to establish if screening during EBUS for PE in patients with suspected lung cancer is feasible and if positive findings are predictive of PE.

METHODS: Patients undergoing EBUS due to suspicion of malignancy of the chest were prospectively enrolled. The pulmonary arteries were assessed during EBUS using a standardized protocol. Patients in whom PE suspicion was raised were referred to confirmatory imaging.

RESULTS: From December 2020 to August 2021, 100 patients were included. Median time for vascular assessment during EBUS was 2 min (Q1-Q3: 1-3 min). EBUS identified two suspected PEs (2%), and the number needed to scan was 50. The positive predictive value of EBUS for PE was 100%.

CONCLUSION: EBUS for PE screening seems feasible and with limited time use. The PPV of positive findings for the diagnosis of PE is high, but the utility is somewhat limited by a high number needed to scan even in a high-risk population. Based on our findings, we believe that EBUS assessment of the pulmonary vasculature may have a role as a routine screening tool for PE. The assessment for PE should be implemented in EBUS training programmes, as operators should be able to recognize incidental PEs.

PMID:37498007 | DOI:10.1159/000531485

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Predictors of Survival in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Active Cancer: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study

J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Aug;12(15):e029618. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.029618. Epub 2023 Jul 25.