Frequency of venous thromboembolism events during acute inpatient rehabilitation in a comprehensive cancer centre

Abstract

Cancer patients with low FIM transfer scores and lower extremity oedema are at higher risk of venous thromboembolism. Patients with these clinical findings at admission may require measures for more aggressive surveillance for the presence of venous thromboembolism. Patients with venous thromboembolism had an increased length of stay in rehabilitation, but ultimately did not have significant differences in FIM score changes.

Calf measurements screening for deep vein thrombosis in acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation

“…In this study, 22 out of 374 total patients (5.9%) had deep vein thrombosis; 10 were found to have deep vein thrombosis while in rehabilitation and 12 patients had deep vein thrombosis during the acute phase of the hospitalisation, similar to earlier findings (Ng et al, 2017). These results are similar to earlier findings where 5% of cancer patients undergoing rehabilitation were found to have acute venous thrombosis (Ng et al, 2017). Patients included those who are at high risk for deep vein thrombosis because of cancer, high immobility, recent surgical procedures and chemotherapy treatment.…”

“…In a previous study by Ng et al (2017), it was reported that 5.2% of cancer patients were affected with venous thromboembolism during the course of rehabilitation. Patients who were found to have lower extremity oedema at admission (P=0.02) had Calf measurements screening for deep vein thrombosis in acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation…”

“…These patients also have significantly worse chances of survival (Sørensen et al, 2000; Auer et al, 2012), suffering from higher rates of complications of bleeding and recurrent venous thromboembolism (Sørensen et al, 2000, Prandoni et al, 2002Khorana et al, 2007). The mortality rate for pulmonary embolus following a deep vein thrombosis ranges from 5% to 37% in untreated patients and is about 6% among patients treated after diagnosis with anticoagulation (Wilson and Murray, 2005).In a previous study by Ng et al (2017), it was reported that 5.2% of cancer patients were affected with venous thromboembolism during the course of rehabilitation. Patients who were found to have lower extremity oedema at admission (P=0.02) had Calf measurements screening for deep vein thrombosis in acute inpatient cancer rehabilitation…”

“…a higher chance of subsequently developing venous thromboembolism (Ng et al, 2017). Furthermore, most rehabilitation patients are placed on bed rest as a result of symptoms of venous thromboembolism, such as shortness of breath or tachycardia; once a positive venous thromboembolism is identified, patients may be further placed on bed rest for an additional 1 to 2 days until therapeutic treatment doses or inferior vena cava filters have been placed.…”

“…Furthermore, most rehabilitation patients are placed on bed rest as a result of symptoms of venous thromboembolism, such as shortness of breath or tachycardia; once a positive venous thromboembolism is identified, patients may be further placed on bed rest for an additional 1 to 2 days until therapeutic treatment doses or inferior vena cava filters have been placed. Two recent studies found patients who had venous thromboembolism event during the course of rehabilitation also had a longer length of stay compared to those patients who did not have a venous thromboembolism event (Ng et al, 2017;Pinto and Galang, 2017).…”