Bed Rest in Deep Vein Thrombosis and the Incidence of Scintigraphic Pulmonary Embolism

Sebastian M. Schellong; Thomas Schwarz; Joachim Kropp; Yvette Prescher; Bettina Beuthien-Baumann; Werner G. Daniel

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1615570

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Thromb Haemost 1999; 82(S 01): 127-129
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615570

Commentaries

Schattauer GmbH

Bed Rest in Deep Vein Thrombosis and the Incidence of Scintigraphic Pulmonary Embolism

Autoren

Sebastian M. Schellong

¹From the 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Angiology
Thomas Schwarz

¹From the 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Angiology
Joachim Kropp

²Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, University Clinic “Carl Gustav Carus”, Dresden, Germany
Yvette Prescher

¹From the 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Angiology
Bettina Beuthien-Baumann

²Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, University Clinic “Carl Gustav Carus”, Dresden, Germany
Werner G. Daniel

¹From the 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Angiology

Abstract

Summary

In several countries of central Europe, patients with acute proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are treated not only by anticoagulation and compression therapy but additionally by strict bed rest for 6-8 days. Until now the theoretical assumption that bed rest substantially reduces the incidence of pulmonary embolism has not been subjected to empirical verification. Patients with acute proximal DVT proven by ultrasonography were randomly assigned to strict bed rest for 8 days (treatment group) or to stay mobilised (control group). In both groups, basic treatment consisted in anticoagulation by subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin/vitamin-K-antagonist and compression therapy. The incidence of pulmonary embolism was assessed by serial ventilation/perfusion SPECT on day 1 and days 8-10. Of the 309 patients with proximal DVT considered for inclusion, 180 were excluded according to the study protocol, and 3 did not give informed consent. One hundred and twenty-six patients were randomly assigned to observe bed rest (n = 62) or to keep mobilised (n = 64). Four patients refused follow-up lung scan.A new lung perfusion defect was detected in 10/59 patients in the treatment group compared to 14/63 patients in the control group (one-sided p-value = 0.25; power 0.8). Bed rest as an additional measure in the treatment of DVT is not able to substantially reduce the incidence of scintigraphically detectable pulmonary embolism. The discomfort and costs associated with the prescription of bed rest in DVT are obviously inappropriate.

Key words

Deep vein thrombosis - pulmonary embolism - lung scintigraphy - bed rest

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Referenzen

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