The incidence of pediatric venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been increasing significantly over the past decade in part as a result of increased recognition of this serious disorder but more so because of the increased use of central venous
catheters and other technological advancements involved in the care of ill children. Management of pediatric VTE is a complex undertaking, considering that the vast majority of children who develop this complication have serious underlying medical disorders. Although the incidence is rising, in comparison with adults, this remains a relatively rare disorder, and as such, large-scale clinical trials have not been completed, rendering management decisions to be based on extrapolation from adult data and the experience of the treating physician. Clearly, both are fraught with problems. Thus, day-to-day management remains more art than science until such time that the results
from clinical trials (many of which are under way) become available. This edition
of “How I Treat” describes the author’s experience in managing 3 common scenarios
that one may encounter in pediatric thrombosis and suggests a logical approach
to such situations. Furthermore, the author provides 3 algorithms to help guide management decisions. (Blood. 2017;130(12):1402-1408)
BLOOD, 21 SEPTEMBER 2017 x VOLUME 130, NUMBER 12
