Abstract
PurposeVenous thromboembolism (VTE) is the combination of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis. In recent years, VTE has been gaining attention in the field of psychiatry as it can cause sudden deaths in patients hospitalized in psychiatric departments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of VTE in psychiatric inpatients using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).Patients and methodsAt the psychiatric department of the Akita University Hospital, NANOPIA® D-dimer was measured in patients with suspected symptomatic VTE or believed to be at risk for asymptomatic VTE. A follow-up contrast-enhanced CT was also performed in cases of D-dimer values over 1 µg/mL. Patients diagnosed with VTE based on contrast-enhanced CT during hospitalizations between May 1, 2009 and April 30, 2017 were analyzed. VTE incidence was compared in restrained and unrestrained catatonic and noncatatonic patients. We also investigated whether VTE was symptomatic or asymptomatic as well as its outcomes.ResultsThe overall incidence of VTE was 2.3% (39/1,681) in the 8-year period. VTE was observed in 61.1% (11/18) of catatonic patients, 4.1% (11/270) of noncatatonic restrained patients, and 1.2% (17/1,393) of noncatatonic unrestrained patients. PE was observed in 76.9% (30/39) of VTE patients and 97.4% (38/39) of VTE patients were asymptomatic. Recovery was achieved in all cases of VTE treated with anticoagulation therapy.ConclusionThese results indicate that the risk of VTE is high in psychiatric inpatients and that PE is common in these population. The data may also suggest that contrast-enhanced CT is important in surveying thrombus in suspected cases of VTE. In the psychiatric field, proper attention must be given to VTE, regardless of the presence or absence of catatonia or restraint, particularly given that PE was observed in more than 75% of cases of VTE.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.