CardioExchange Archive

March 8th, 2012

The Psychological Impact of DVT and PE

Beth Waldron, MA

The evaluation of the care and outcome of patients with venous thromboembolism is often focused on the visible short-term effects of a clot, such as: Has the acute clotting episode resolved? Are chronic pain, swelling, or other post-thrombotic issues well managed? Has there been any bleeding associated with anticoagulation? Has there been a VTE recurrence? […]

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December 28th, 2011

No Mortality Benefit of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in Acutely Ill Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious problem for acutely ill patients in the hospital, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine failed to find any improvement in mortality associated with thromboprophylaxis. Ajay Kakkar and the LIFENOX investigators randomized 8307 acutely ill patients to receive enoxaparin or placebo for 10 days. All patients wore elastic […]

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November 13th, 2011

ADOPT Fails to Support Extended Oral Apixaban in High-Risk Post-Discharge Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

Although medically ill patients remain at risk for VTE after hospital discharge, a strategy of extended oral anticoagulation with apixaban did not prove to be successful in the ADOPT (Apixaban Dosing to Optimize Protection from Thrombosis) trial, which was presented by Samuel Z. Goldhaber at the American Heart Association and published simultaneously in the New England […]

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October 26th, 2011

Danish Study Clarifies VTE Risk Associated with Newer Progestogens in Oral Contraceptives

Larry Husten, PHD

A large new study from Denmark provides the best evidence yet that third-generation oral contraceptives (OCs) containing drospirenone, desogestrel, or gestodene (sometimes used to treat dysmenorrhea) are associated with twice the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) as second-generation OCs containing levonorgestrel. In a paper published in BMJ,  Øjvind Lidegaard and colleagues analyzed data from national registries containing more […]

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March 22nd, 2011

AHA Releases New Recommendations for Management of Acute VTE

Larry Husten, PHD

The AHA is offering new guidance for the management of patients with pulmonary embolism, iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The scientific statement is published online in Circulation. In addition to advice about anticoagulant therapy, the statement offers extensive recommendations about the appropriate use of fibrinolytic agents, catheter-based and surgical interventions, and […]

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