Predictors of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Pediatric Trauma Based on Demographic, Injury, and Clinical Characteristics

BACKGROUND/RATIONALE: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the second leading cause of morbidity among hospitalized pediatric patients. The current literature evaluates individual risk factors in isolation while failing to comprehensively evaluate other injuries and clinical characteristics. OBJECTIVES: Our study aims to identify various demographic, injury, and clinical characteristics associated with DVT in pediatric polytrauma patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study utilized the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File (ACS-TQIP-PUF) database 2017-2023 to evaluate DVT risk in pediatric patients (15 (aOR: 3.71, p < .001), severe abdominal trauma (aOR: 1.17, p = .049), undergoing craniotomy (aOR: 2.26, p = .044) or exploratory laparotomy (aOR: 3.17, p < .001), on mechanical ventilation > 72 hr (aOR: 6.53, p < .001), and receiving blood transfusions (aOR: 3.51, p < .001) also had an increased DVT risk. CONCLUSION: Pediatric polytrauma patients aged 15-17, obese, with penetrating severe injuries, on mechanical ventilation >72 hr, undergoing craniotomy or exploratory laparotomy, and those receiving blood transfusions, especially transfusions within 4 hr and massive blood transfusions, are at increased risk of developing DVT.