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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of death in multisystem trauma patients; the importance of VTE prevention is well recognized. Presently, standard dose enoxaparin (30 mg BID) is used as chemical prophylaxis, regardless of weight or physiologic status. However, evidence suggests decreased bioavailability of enoxaparin in critically ill patients. Therefore, we hypothesized that a weight-based enoxaparin dosing regimen would provide more adequate prophylaxis (as indicated by antifactor Xa levels) for patients in our trauma intensive care unit (TICU).These data were prospectively collected in TICU patients admitted over a 5-month period given twice daily 0.6 mg/kg enoxaparin (actual body weight). Patients were compared with a historical cohort receiving standard dosing. Anti-Xa levels were collected at 11.5 hours (trough, goal ≥0.1 IU/mL) after each evening administration. Patient demographics, admission weight, dose, and daily anti-Xa levels were recorded. Patients with renal insufficiency or brain, spine, or spinal cord injury were excluded. Data were collected from 26 patients in the standard-dose group and 37 in the weight-based group. Sixty-four trough anti-Xa measurements were taken in the standard dose group and 74 collected in the weight-based group. Evaluating only levels measured after the third dose, the change in dosing of enoxaparin from 30 to 0.6 mg/kg resulted in an increased percentage of patients with goal antifactor Xa levels from 8 per cent to 61 per cent ( P < 0.0001). Examining all troughs, the change in dose resulted in an increase in patients with a goal anti-Xa level from 19 to 59 per cent ( P < 0.0001). Weight-based dosing of enoxaparin in trauma ICU patients yields superior results with respect to adequate anti-Xa levels when compared with standard dosing. These findings suggest that weight-based dosing may provide superior VTE prophylaxis in TICU patients. Evaluation of the effects of this dosing paradigm on actual VTE rate is ongoing at our institution.

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