91% prefer home LMWH

A recent study explored the feasibility of outpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) outside the clinical setting.¹

Investigators looked at 89 patients who were treated at home with SQ injections. Most of the patients gave themselves injections or received them from a family member; the rest required assistance from a nurse. LMWH was given for a minimum of five days. Warfarin was also started early in the course of LMWH treatment and continued for a minimum of three months.

One patient died of pulmonary embolism and bleeding shortly after the first LMWH injection; eight died of nonthromboembolic causes; and one had a minor bleeding episode. Ninety-one percent of the patients preferred outpatient treatment; and 70% were comfortable with self-injection.

Reference

1. Harrison L, et al. Assessment of outpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis with low molecular weight heparin. Arch Intern Med 1998; 158:2,001-2,003. Leibowitz RS. Deep vein thrombosis: Thinking inside out. Arch Intern Med 1998; 158:1,964.