European Journal of Vascular Surgery
Original articleDeep vein thrombosis of the axillary-subclavian veins: Epidemiologic data, effects of different types of treatment and late sequele
Upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is uncommon. In the city of Malmö, Sweden (240 000 inhabitants), 296 cases undergoing phlebography due to a suspicion of upper extremity DVT, during 1971–1986 were analysed. 165 arm phlebograms did not reveal any thrombi (56%). In 11 cases (4%) external compression of the vein was found. Thrombi in the axillary or subclavian vein were found in 120 cases (40%) and were classified as primary in 73 cases and secondary in 47 cases. Only seven cases of effort thrombosis were found. Four cases had neurovascular symptoms mimicking thoracic outlet syndrome and underwent elective first rib resection. None of the patients with primary DVT had a fatal pulmonary embolism (FPE). One patient had clinical signs suspicious of pulmonary embolism (PE), however, scintigraphy of the lungs was negative. Of the cases with secondary thrombi three cases had fatal, and one case had contributory PE at autopsy. Additionally, one patient had a nonfatal PE verified scintigraphically. Post-thrombotic sequelae from the arm were in no case so severe that the patient had to change occupation. Patients with primary DVT had moderate complaints in three and mild in fifteen cases. Those with secondary arm thrombi experienced only moderate symptoms in two cases and mild sequelae in fourteen. There was no correlation between the type of treatment and late post-thrombotic symptoms. From this study it can be concluded that phlebography must be undertaken before treatment can be started in patients with a suspected arm DVT. Primary DVT seems to be a “benign” disease, and in general treatment with anticoagulants is sufficient. Only in selected cases may more aggressive treatment be needed. In patients with secondary DVT there is a risk of PE and more prolonged anticoagulation may be indicated.
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Cited by (185)
Diagnosis and management of thoracic outlet syndrome in athletes
2024, Seminars in Vascular SurgeryThe physical demands of sports can place patients at elevated risk of use-related pathologies, including thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Overhead athletes in particular (eg, baseball and football players, swimmers, divers, and weightlifters) often subject their subclavian vessels and brachial plexuses to repetitive trauma, resulting in venous effort thrombosis, arterial occlusions, brachial plexopathy, and more. This patient population is at higher risk for Paget-Schroetter syndrome, or effort thrombosis, although neurogenic TOS (nTOS) is still the predominant form of the disease among all groups. First-rib resection is almost always recommended for vascular TOS in a young, active population, although a surgical benefit for patients with nTOS is less clear. Practitioners specializing in upper extremity disorders should take care to differentiate TOS from other repetitive use–related disorders, including shoulder orthopedic injuries and nerve entrapments at other areas of the neck and arm, as TOS is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. For nTOS, physical therapy is a cornerstone of diagnosis, along with response to injections. Most patients first undergo some period of nonoperative management with intense physical therapy and training before proceeding with rib resection. It is particularly essential for ensuring that athletes can return to their baselines of flexibility, strength, and stamina in the upper extremity. Botulinum toxin and lidocaine injections in the anterior scalene muscle might predict which patients will likely benefit from first-rib resection. Athletes are usually satisfied with their decisions to undergo first-rib resection, although the risk of rare but potentially career- or life-threatening complications, such as brachial plexus injury or subclavian vessel injury, must be considered. Frequently, they are able to return to the same or a higher level of play after full recovery.
Ten-year Experience of Surgical Management of Paget-Schroetter Syndrome
2023, Annals of Vascular SurgeryPaget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS) or effort-induced thrombosis is an acute (<14 days) venous thrombosis of the axillosubclavian vein. Early catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) is required to improve patency rate and avoid postthrombotic syndrome. This study aimed to report the management of PSS in our center across 10 years and compare it to the established guidelines.
Some of the selected patients were treated with CDT if the diagnosis of acute vein thrombosis was established 6 weeks after the appearance of the first symptoms and if a vascular surgeon was involved in the care and management of the patient. Patients underwent first rib removal 6 weeks after the CDT. Some patients with primary upper limb venous thrombosis were not immediately referred to a vascular surgeon after the initial diagnosis. They were instead discharged home with the prescription of oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) alone for at least 3 months.
Between 2010 and 2020, 426 first rib removal procedures were performed for 338 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) at our center. Among them, 18 (4.2%) patients with PSS were identified. 5 (27.8%) patients underwent CDT. The median duration between first symptoms and thrombolysis was 10 days (range, 1–32). Thirteen (72.2%) patients were discharged home with OAT alone and referred to a vascular surgeon with a median time of 365 days (range, 8–6,422) for TOS diagnosis. Postthrombotic syndrome was noticed in 5 (38%) patients in the OAT group and 1 (20%) patient in the CDT group.
Despite the guidelines being in favor of early CDT in PSS, most patients are discharged home with OAT alone. The study findings demonstrate that better information about this specific complication must be provided to the concerned practitioners who are likely to encounter such patients.
Preoperative thrombolysis is associated with improved vein patency and functional outcomes after first rib resection in acute Paget-Schroetter syndrome
2022, Journal of Vascular SurgeryMost patients with acute Paget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS) present in one of two manners: (1) thrombosis managed initially with thrombolysis and anticoagulation and then referred for surgery, and (2) initial treatment with anticoagulation only and later referral for surgery. Definitive benefits of thrombolysis in the acute period (the first 2 weeks after thrombosis) over anticoagulation alone have not been well reported. Our goal was to compare patients managed with early thrombolysis and anticoagulation followed by first rib resection (FRR) and later postoperative venography with venoplasty (PTA) with those managed with anticoagulation alone followed by FRR and PTA using vein patency assessed with venography and standardized outcome measures.
We reviewed a prospectively collected database from 2000 to 2019. Two groups were compared: those managed with early thrombolysis at our institution (Lysis) and those managed with anticoagulation alone (NoLysis). All patients underwent FRR. Venography was routinely performed before and after FRR. Standardized outcome measures included Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) scores and Somatic Pain Scale.
A total of 50 Lysis and 50 NoLysis patients were identified. Pre-FRR venography showed that thrombolysis resulted in patency of 98% of veins, whereas 78% of NoLysis veins were patent. After FRR, postoperative venography revealed that 46 (92%) patients in the Lysis group and 37 (74%) patients in the NoLysis group achieved vein patency. Thrombolysis was significantly associated with final vein patency (odds ratio: 17 [4-199]; P < .001). Lysis patients had a trend toward lower QuickDASH scores from pre-FRR to post-FRR compared with NoLysis patients with a mean difference of −16.4 (±19.7) vs −5.2 (±15.6) points (P = .13). The difference in reduction of Somatic Pain Scale scores was not statistically significant.
Thrombolysis as initial management of PSS, combined with anticoagulation, followed by FFR and VenoPTA resulted in improved final vein patency and may lead to an improved functional outcome measured with QuickDASH scores. Therefore, clinical protocols using thrombolysis as initial management should be considered when planning the optimal treatment strategy for patients with acute PSS.
Post-thrombotic syndrome after upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: An international Delphi consensus study
2022, Journal of Thrombosis and HaemostasisPrimary deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremity (UEDVT) is a rare condition but up to 60% of patients may develop post‐thrombotic syndrome in the upper extremity (UE‐PTS) with significant morbidity and decreased quality of life. However, there is no universally accepted method to diagnose and classify UE‐PTS, hampering scientific research on UEDVT treatment. Through this international Delphi consensus study we aimed to determine what a clinical score for diagnosing UE‐PTS should entail.
An online focus group survey among 20 patients treated for UEDVT was performed to provide clinical parameters before the start of a four round electronic Delphi consensus study among 25 international experts. The CREDES recommendations on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies were applied. Open text questions, multiple selection questions, and 9‐point Likert scales were used. Consensus was set at 70% agreement.
After four rounds, agreement was reached on a composite score of five symptoms and three clinical signs, combined with a functional disability score. The signs and symptom will each be scored on a severity scale of 0–3 and the total score expressed as an ordinal variable; no/mild/moderate/or severe PTS. The functional disability portion measures the impact of the signs and symptoms on the functionality of the patient’s arm.
Consensus was reached on a composite score of signs and symptoms of UE‐PTS combined with a functional disability score. Clinical validation of the UE‐PTS score in a large patient cohort is mandatory to facilitate application in future research.
Ultra-early therapeutic anticoagulation after craniotomy – A single institution experience
2022, Journal of Clinical NeuroscienceThere is a paucity of information regarding the optimal timing of initiation or re-initiation of therapeutic anticoagulation after intracranial surgery. Anticoagulation that is started too soon after surgery may increase the risk of catastrophic intracranial bleeding. However, there are scenarios that necessitate the use of anticoagulation in the immediate post-operative period despite the increased risk of hemorrhage. Therefore, we sought to report our experience with ultra-early therapeutic anticoagulation after craniotomy. Retrospective chart review of patients from a single institution between 1/1/2010 and 10/1/2021 who were treated with therapeutic anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism on or before 7-days after a craniotomy or craniectomy. The primary endpoint was intracranial hemorrhage resulting in death or return to the operating room for hematoma evacuation. Secondary endpoints included extra-cranial hemorrhage, length of hospital stay, and 90-day readmission rate. Eighteen patients were included for analysis. The median time that therapeutic anticoagulation was started was post-operative day 5 (range 1–7 days). One patient (5.6%) met the primary endpoint as they experienced an intracranial hemorrhage 5 days after starting anticoagulation, which required surgical evacuation. No patients experienced an extra-cranial hemorrhage. The median length of hospitalization was 13 days (range 4–89 days). No patients were readmitted within 90 days. The 90-day survival rate was 100%. Ultra-early anticoagulation after craniotomy resulted in a 5.6% risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Thus, ultra-early anticoagulation can be performed safely but it does carry a substantial risk of intracranial bleeding that may require emergent hematoma evacuation or result in permeant neurologic deficits or death.
Anticoagulant treatment for upper extremity deep vein thrombosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2022, Journal of Thrombosis and HaemostasisData on anticoagulant treatment for upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) are largely derived from studies on usual site venous thromboembolism (VTE).
The objective of this meta‐analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy for UEDVT.
A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted for studies including patients with UEDVT. Primary outcomes were recurrent VTE and major bleeding. Secondary outcomes included clinically‐relevant non‐major bleeding and all‐cause mortality. Summary estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by random‐effect meta‐analysis.
A total of 1473 patients from 11 prospective and nine retrospective studies were included. Sixty percent of patients had an indwelling catheter and 56.1% had cancer. Anticoagulant treatment consisted of direct oral anticoagulants, low molecular weight heparin followed by vitamin K antagonists, and low molecular weight heparin alone in 45.1%, 35.0%, and 19.9% of patients, respectively. During a median follow‐up of 13 months, recurrent VTE occurred in 3% of patients (95% CI: 2–4; 21/1334 patients), major bleeding in 3% (95% CI: 2%–5%; 29/1235 patients), clinically‐relevant non‐major bleeding in 4% (95% CI: 3–6; 40/1075 patients), and all‐cause mortality in 9% (95% CI: 5–15; 108/1084 patients). Rates of these outcomes were not significantly different between patients with or without cancer, patients with or without an indwelling catheter, and among those receiving different anticoagulant treatments.
In patients with UEDVT, anticoagulant treatment is associated with a low risk of recurrent VTE and a nonnegligible risk of major bleeding.