As the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread to the US, so too did descriptions of an associated coagulopathy and thrombotic complications. Hospitals created institutional protocols for inpatient management of COVID-19 coagulopathy and thrombosis in response to this developing data. We collected and analyzed protocols from 21 US academic medical centers developed between January and May 2020. We found greatest consensus on recommendations for heparin-based pharmacologic venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in COVID-19 patients without contraindications. Protocols differed regarding incorporation of D-dimer tests, dosing of VTE prophylaxis, indications for post-discharge pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis, how to evaluate for VTE, and the use of empiric therapeutic anticoagulation. These findings support ongoing efforts to establish international, evidence-based guidelines.

Ligament heals in a synchronized and complex series of events. The remodeling process may last months or years. Experimental evidence suggests the damaged ligament does not recover its normal functional properties. Specific mechanisms to prevent scar formation and to regenerate the original mechanical function remain elusive but likely involve regulation of creeping substitution. Creeping substitution creates a larger hypercellular, hypervascular, and disorganized granulation tissue mass that results in an inefficient and nonregenerative wound healing process for the ligament. Control of creeping substitution may limit the extent of this tissue compromise and reduce the time necessary for healing. The objective of this study is to better understand the mechanism behind scar formation by identifying the extracellular matrix factors and other unique genes of interest differentially expressed during rat ligament healing via microarray. For this study, rat medial collateral ligaments were either surgically transected or left intact. Ligaments were collected at day 3 or 7 postinjury and used for microarray, quantitative PCR, and/or immunohistochemistry. Results were compared with the normal intact ligament. We demonstrate that early ligament healing is characterized by the modulation of several inflammatory and extracellular matrix factors during the first week of injury. Specifically, a number of matrix metalloproteinases and collagens are differentially and significantly expressed during early ligament healing. Additionally, we demonstrate the modulation of three novel genes, periostin, collagen-triple helix repeat containing-1, and serine protease 35 in our ligament healing model. Together, control of granulation tissue creeping substitution and subsequent downstream scar formation is likely to involve these factors.

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic required clinicians to care for a disease with evolving characteristics while also adhering to care changes (e.g., physical distancing practices) that might lead to diagnostic errors (DEs). Objective To determine the frequency of DEs and their causes among patients hospitalized under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting Eight medical centers affiliated with the Hospital Medicine ReEngineering Network (HOMERuN). Target population Adults hospitalized under investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 infection between February and July 2020. Measurements We randomly selected up to 8 cases per site per month for review, with each case reviewed by two clinicians to determine whether a DE (defined as a missed or delayed diagnosis) occurred, and whether any diagnostic process faults took place. We used bivariable statistics to compare patients with and without DE and multivariable models to determine which process faults or patient factors were associated with DEs. Results Two hundred and fifty-seven patient charts underwent review, of which 36 (14%) had a diagnostic error. Patients with and without DE were statistically similar in terms of socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, risk factors for COVID-19, and COVID-19 test turnaround time and eventual positivity. Most common diagnostic process faults contributing to DE were problems with clinical assessment, testing choices, history taking, and physical examination (all p < 0.01). Diagnostic process faults associated with policies and procedures related to COVID-19 were not associated with DE risk. Fourteen patients (35.9% of patients with errors and 5.4% overall) suffered harm or death due to diagnostic error. Limitations Results are limited by available documentation and do not capture communication between providers and patients. Conclusion Among PUI patients, DEs were common and not associated with pandemic-related care changes, suggesting the importance of more general diagnostic process gaps in error propagation.