Perceived relative clinical significance of the risks of venous thromboembolism and bleeding from pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in children: an international survey of pediatric providers: communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Pediatric and Neonatal Thrombosis and Hemostasis

In the absence of robust data, the decision to provide primary pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized children depends on the perceived risks of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism (HA-VTE), balanced against the acceptable bleeding risk from thromboprophylaxis.

We aimed (1) to determine the perceived relative clinical significance of HA-VTE and bleeding from thromboprophylaxis among pediatric providers, and (2) to determine patient and provider characteristics that modify this perception.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among pediatric providers. Using case vignettes and Likert scales, we quantified the likelihood of providing thromboprophylaxis to prevent 4 types of HA-VTE, varying in severity, given equal risks of developing 6 bleeding characteristics, ranging from minor to fatal. We evaluated 9 patient characteristics, including patient age, and 7 provider characteristics that may modify this decision.