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Review
. 2023 Jan-Dec:29:10760296221148477.
doi: 10.1177/10760296221148477.

Post-discharge Thromboembolic Events in COVID-19 Patients: A Review on the Necessity for Prophylaxis

Forough Mehrabi  1 , Melina Farshbafnadi  2 , Nima Rezaei  3
Affiliations
Review

Post-discharge Thromboembolic Events in COVID-19 Patients: A Review on the Necessity for Prophylaxis

Forough Mehrabi et al. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2023 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the respiratory system of patients and is characterized by pneumonia with hypoxemia. Hospitalized patients and particularly those admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) may encounter a cascade of coagulopathies, which may lead to macrovessel thrombotic events such as pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or arterial thromboembolism (ATE). These events can result in serious life-threatening diseases including cerebrovascular stroke and myocardial infarction. Despite all available information about the incidence, prevention, and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among hospitalized patients, few data are available on the incidence of both symptomatic and subclinical VTE after discharge. Therefore, there is no precise suggestion or guideline for prophylaxis against VTE in post-discharge period, and some controversies exist over the current guidelines. In the present study, we aimed to review and summarize available literature upon incidence, prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches for VTE in COVID-19 patients. Also, the pathogenic mechanisms of VTE in infected individuals with COVID-19 were discussed.

Keywords: COVID-19; D-dimer; coagulopathy; deep vein thrombosis; venous thromboembolism.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Some of the involved mechanisms in venous thromboembolism (VTE) related to COVID-19.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Flowchart of diagnostic methods for venous thromboembolism (VTE) related to COVID-19.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Flowchart concerning methods of prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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