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Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism following physical restraint.

Laursen SB, Jensen TN, Bolwig T, Olsen NV

University Clinic of Neuroanaesthesia, The Neuroscience Center, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: We describe a case of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) following the use of physical restraint in a patient with a diagnosis of acute delusional psychotic disorder. METHOD: A new case report of DVT and PE associated with prolonged physical restraint is presented. The literature on physical restraint, DVT, and PE was reviewed using a search of Medline and Psychinfo from 1966 to the present. RESULTS: Four other reported cases of DVT and PE were found in association with physically restrained patients. CONCLUSION: Risk of DVT and PE in association with immobilization during physical restraint may occur in spite of no pre-existing risk factors. Medical guidelines for the prevention of thrombosis following physical restraint are presented. Despite the absence of controlled trials of treatment effectiveness, the catastrophic outcome of DVT and PE warrants early and vigorous intervention in patients undergoing physical restraint.

Published 2 March 2005 in Acta Psychiatr Scand, 111(4): 324-7; discussion 327.
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