Impact of Implementation of an Intensified Thromboprofylaxis Protocol in in Critically Ill ICU Patients With COVID-19: a Longitudinal Controlled Before-after Study

Background Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are known to be at risk for thrombo-embolic events. Virchow's triad describes the major risk factors in three categories: venous stasis, vessel injury and activation of blood coagulation. A prolonged mechanical ventilation together with the hemodynamic effects of this ventilation with a high positive and expiratory pressure (PEEP), the presence of central venous catheters, the immobilization of these patients and the presence of obesity or other comorbidities can attribute to the occurrence of a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients admitted at ICU. The incidence of DVT during ICU stay has been reported between 5 and 15%.

On the 13th of March, the first COVID-19 patient was admitted at the ICU at the Jessa Hospital. Within a few days, the admissions at our COVID-19 unit grew exponential. In these difficult time, research concerning COVID-19 has been performed indicating the COVID-19 virus induces a hyper-inflammatory state. It has been suggested that systemic inflammation induces endothelial injury. This will activate the coagulation cascade and impair fibrinolysis with disruption of endothelial barrier, and loss of physiologic antithrombotic factors which may elevated the risk for DVTs significantly. Up to now, there is still no causal treatment for COVID-19. The current management of COVID-19 is mainly supportive i.e. a prolonged inflammatory status and a prolonged risk for VTE.

We have shown in a previous cross sectional study that the prevalence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19 treated with a prophylactic dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is more than 60% (submitted manuscript). Consequently, the risk of VTE complications in this patient group is very high. In the light of these findings, an intensified thromboprofylaxis protocol was applied in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19 at our ICU units since 31st of March 2020.

Aim The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the mortality, the incidence of DVT and the incidence of kidney and liver failure in patients admitted to the ICU before and after the implementation of an intensified thromboprofylaxis protocol on 31st of March 2020. Patients in the before group are admitted at the ICU from 13/3/2020-30/3/2020 and patients in the after group are admitted to the ICU from 31/3 until 20/4/2020.

Design This is a retrospective, longitudinal, before-after controlled study investigating the mortality, the incidence of DVT and the incidence of kidney and liver failure in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU before and after the implementation of an intensified thromboprofylaxis protocol.