Overview
To study thrombin generation parameters in critically ill patients with and without central line related thrombosis (CRT).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≧ 18; AND
- Admitted to the mixed medical-surgical intensive care units of Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong; AND
- Clinically indicated for central catheter insertion, which includes central venous catheters and dialysis catheters; AND
- Expected to have the central catheter in place for at least 5 days in their ICU stay.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients known to have active venous thromboembolism including deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism;
- Patients known to have hypercoagulable states, e.g., hereditary thrombophilia, antiphospholipid syndrome; OR
- Patients with active solid organ or hematological malignancies; OR
- Patients already receiving therapeutic anticoagulation prior to study recruitment; OR
- Patients with thrombosis detected in the insertion site before central catheter insertion; OR
- Patients with a central venous catheter already in place prior to ICU admission; OR
- Patients admitted to the ICU for post-operative care; OR
- Patients admitted to the ICU for trauma care; OR
- Patients requiring extra-corporeal life support (ECLS); OR
- Patients with poor window or inaccessible for ultrasonographic examination; OR
- Pregnancy/post-partum within 6 weeks