Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization

Background Clinical hypercoagulopathy in patients with COVID-19 has been anecdotally described, but there is lack of evidence due to the novelty of this disease. Our study reports the results of rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in relation to traditional laboratory coagulation tests and acute...

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Main Authors: Peter Rhee, Rifat Latifi, Abbas Smiley, Kartik Prabhakaran, Joshua Klein, James K Choi, Gary Lombardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2022-10-01
Series:Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
Online Access:https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000603.full
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author Peter Rhee
Rifat Latifi
Abbas Smiley
Kartik Prabhakaran
Joshua Klein
James K Choi
Gary Lombardo
author_facet Peter Rhee
Rifat Latifi
Abbas Smiley
Kartik Prabhakaran
Joshua Klein
James K Choi
Gary Lombardo
author_sort Peter Rhee
collection DOAJ
description Background Clinical hypercoagulopathy in patients with COVID-19 has been anecdotally described, but there is lack of evidence due to the novelty of this disease. Our study reports the results of rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in relation to traditional laboratory coagulation tests and acute phase markers among a cohort of severely ill, mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19.Methods Patients with COVID-19 (N=21) with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation were included in this prospective case series. ROTEM was serially obtained for all patients on three different days during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay and analyzed using repeated measures analysis. Demographic variables, symptoms at the time of presentation, ROTEM values, laboratory values for traditionally measured coagulation profiles, and acute phase reactants were analyzed, in addition to the use of anticoagulation and clinical hypercoagulopathic complications.Results The average age of our cohort was 57.9 years old (SD=14.4) and 76.2% were male. The mortality rate was 14.3% (3 of 21). Two patients (12.5%) were identified to have new-onset deep vein thrombosis, two patients (12.5%) were found to have ≥3 episodes of central venous catheter thrombosis, and three patients (18.7%) had confirmed stroke. ROTEM demonstrated elevated EXTEM and INTEM clotting times, including elevated FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCFFIB). All patients treated with therapeutic anticoagulation still demonstrated hypercoagulopathy within the MCFFIB tests.Discussion Repeated measure ROTEMs were able to detect hypercoagulopathy in ICU patients with COVID-19 despite therapeutic anticoagulation with heparin.Level of evidence III.
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spelling doaj-art-d507eb080fca4e78a352ea2cc30b261c2024-11-30T06:35:11ZengBMJ Publishing GroupTrauma Surgery & Acute Care Open2397-57762022-10-017110.1136/tsaco-2020-000603Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinizationPeter Rhee0Rifat Latifi1Abbas Smiley2Kartik Prabhakaran3Joshua Klein4James K Choi5Gary Lombardo6Department of Surgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USAInternational Virtual eHospital Foundation, Hope, Idaho, USADepartment of Surgery, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USASurgery, Westchester Medical Center Health Network, Valhalla, New York, USASurgery, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USADepartment of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USADepartment of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USABackground Clinical hypercoagulopathy in patients with COVID-19 has been anecdotally described, but there is lack of evidence due to the novelty of this disease. Our study reports the results of rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in relation to traditional laboratory coagulation tests and acute phase markers among a cohort of severely ill, mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19.Methods Patients with COVID-19 (N=21) with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation were included in this prospective case series. ROTEM was serially obtained for all patients on three different days during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay and analyzed using repeated measures analysis. Demographic variables, symptoms at the time of presentation, ROTEM values, laboratory values for traditionally measured coagulation profiles, and acute phase reactants were analyzed, in addition to the use of anticoagulation and clinical hypercoagulopathic complications.Results The average age of our cohort was 57.9 years old (SD=14.4) and 76.2% were male. The mortality rate was 14.3% (3 of 21). Two patients (12.5%) were identified to have new-onset deep vein thrombosis, two patients (12.5%) were found to have ≥3 episodes of central venous catheter thrombosis, and three patients (18.7%) had confirmed stroke. ROTEM demonstrated elevated EXTEM and INTEM clotting times, including elevated FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCFFIB). All patients treated with therapeutic anticoagulation still demonstrated hypercoagulopathy within the MCFFIB tests.Discussion Repeated measure ROTEMs were able to detect hypercoagulopathy in ICU patients with COVID-19 despite therapeutic anticoagulation with heparin.Level of evidence III.https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000603.full
spellingShingle Peter Rhee
Rifat Latifi
Abbas Smiley
Kartik Prabhakaran
Joshua Klein
James K Choi
Gary Lombardo
Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization
Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open
title Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization
title_full Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization
title_fullStr Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization
title_full_unstemmed Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization
title_short Serial rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization
title_sort serial rotational thromboelastography rotem in mechanically ventilated patients with covid 19 demonstrates hypercoagulopathy despite therapeutic heparinization
url https://tsaco.bmj.com/content/7/1/e000603.full
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