PREVENTING FATAL DVT [ back to What's New ]
Persons hospitalized for major TBI are at very high risk of developing life threatening deep vein thrombosis. As a group their risk level is higher than patients with major injuries to the face, chest or abdomen, but slightly lower than those with significant spinal cord injuries. The period of highest risk is 2-3 weeks after the injury for which the patient was hospitalized. It is during this time frame that a patient with no clinical manifestation of DVT can die of a pulmonary embolism (PE). Therefore, recent studies recommend preventive measures. Use of high dose heparin is appropriate for patients without brain bleeding who have not undergone brain surgery. Use of unfractionated low dose Heparin or low molecular weight heparin was recommended for the patients with brain bleeding or post brain surgery.