Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of venous thromboembolism, possible
predictors, and the association between venous thromboembolism and Functional
Independence Measure (FIM) scores and length of stay among cancer patients
admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit at a cancer centre. DESIGN:
Retrospective analysis of patients admitted to acute inpatient rehabilitation
from September 2011 to June 2013. patients:
Cancer patients in the acute
inpatient rehabilitation unit within a tertiary cancer centre. METHODS:
International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) codes identified deep vein
thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and inferior vena cava filter. RESULTS: Venous
thromboembolism occurred in 32/611 patients (5.2%): 23/611 (3.8%) during the
course of hospitalization before admission to rehabilitation, and 9/611 patients
(1.5%) during rehabilitation. Patients with lower extremity oedema at admission
(p = 0.0218) had a higher chance of subsequently developing venous
thromboembolism. Patients with venous thromboembolism during rehabilitation had a
significantly lower FIM transfer score at admission to rehabilitation (p =
0.0247), a longer length of stay in rehabilitation (p = 0.0013) and overall
hospitalization (p = 0.0580). CONCLUSION: Cancer patients with low FIM transfer
scores and lower extremity oedema are at higher risk of venous thromboembolism.
Patients with these clinical findings at admission may require measures for more
aggressive surveillance for the presence of venous thromboembolism. Patients with
venous thromboembolism had an increased length of stay in rehabilitation, but
ultimately did not have significant differences in FIM score changes.

Langue : ANGLAIS