Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

European thromboprophylaxis practice amongst paediatric cardiology units

Ryan, Ciara ; Odermarsky, Michal LU orcid ; De Wolf, Daniel ; Kelleher, Sean T ; Naumburg, Estelle ; Reinhardt, Zdenka ; Male, Christoph ; Helbing, Wim ; Bonnet, Damien and McMahon, Colin J (2025) In European Journal of Pediatrics 184(8). p.528-528
Abstract

UNLABELLED: Children with congenital and acquired heart disease have an increased risk of thromboembolic events. There is a paucity of evidence on the optimal approach to thromboprophylaxis for this population, and the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants in recent years has led to significant variation in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to describe current practice in thromboprophylaxis prescribing amongst European Paediatric Cardiology units managing paediatric and congenital heart disease. A structured and approved online survey (SurveyMonkey.com) was developed for distribution to AEPC affiliated paediatric cardiology centres in Europe. Responses were received from 30 participants working in 27 Paediatric Cardiology... (More)

UNLABELLED: Children with congenital and acquired heart disease have an increased risk of thromboembolic events. There is a paucity of evidence on the optimal approach to thromboprophylaxis for this population, and the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants in recent years has led to significant variation in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to describe current practice in thromboprophylaxis prescribing amongst European Paediatric Cardiology units managing paediatric and congenital heart disease. A structured and approved online survey (SurveyMonkey.com) was developed for distribution to AEPC affiliated paediatric cardiology centres in Europe. Responses were received from 30 participants working in 27 Paediatric Cardiology centres across Europe. There is significant variation between participants in the approach to thromboprophylaxis in different patient cohorts, including functional single ventricle patients, post-cardiac catheterisation intervention/electrophysiology study, post-prosthetic valve insertion, cardiomyopathy/heart failure, and infective endocarditis. Differences were seen in the indications for thromboprophylaxis, as well as the agents used and the duration of treatment.

CONCLUSION: There is significant variation in practice amongst participants in Europe. Further studies are required in order to develop evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice.

WHAT IS KNOWN: • Children with congenital and acquired heart disease have increased predisposition to thrombosis after specific surgeries and interventions. • International guidelines exist for the management of antiplatelet and anticoagulation agents in children with congenital and acquired heart disease.

WHAT IS NEW: • This study outlines the variation in practice amongst clinicians in Europe in the indications for thromboprophylaxis, medications used and duration of treatment for both congenital and acquired heart disease in paediatric patients. • This study highlights the need for up-to-date, evidence-based thromboprophylaxis guidelines for this patient population, including recommendations on direct oral anticoagulant use.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Humans, Europe, Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data, Child, Anticoagulants/therapeutic use, Thromboembolism/prevention & control, Heart Defects, Congenital/complications, Cardiology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Heart Diseases/complications, Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use
in
European Journal of Pediatrics
volume
184
issue
8
pages
528 - 528
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:40760254
ISSN
1432-1076
DOI
10.1007/s00431-025-06351-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2025. The Author(s).
id
737fadcc-5dec-48e3-83e0-945946270136
date added to LUP
2025-08-05 19:31:48
date last changed
2025-08-06 08:47:44
@article{737fadcc-5dec-48e3-83e0-945946270136,
  abstract     = {{<p>UNLABELLED: Children with congenital and acquired heart disease have an increased risk of thromboembolic events. There is a paucity of evidence on the optimal approach to thromboprophylaxis for this population, and the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants in recent years has led to significant variation in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to describe current practice in thromboprophylaxis prescribing amongst European Paediatric Cardiology units managing paediatric and congenital heart disease. A structured and approved online survey (SurveyMonkey.com) was developed for distribution to AEPC affiliated paediatric cardiology centres in Europe. Responses were received from 30 participants working in 27 Paediatric Cardiology centres across Europe. There is significant variation between participants in the approach to thromboprophylaxis in different patient cohorts, including functional single ventricle patients, post-cardiac catheterisation intervention/electrophysiology study, post-prosthetic valve insertion, cardiomyopathy/heart failure, and infective endocarditis. Differences were seen in the indications for thromboprophylaxis, as well as the agents used and the duration of treatment.</p><p>CONCLUSION: There is significant variation in practice amongst participants in Europe. Further studies are required in order to develop evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice.</p><p>WHAT IS KNOWN: • Children with congenital and acquired heart disease have increased predisposition to thrombosis after specific surgeries and interventions. • International guidelines exist for the management of antiplatelet and anticoagulation agents in children with congenital and acquired heart disease.</p><p>WHAT IS NEW: • This study outlines the variation in practice amongst clinicians in Europe in the indications for thromboprophylaxis, medications used and duration of treatment for both congenital and acquired heart disease in paediatric patients. • This study highlights the need for up-to-date, evidence-based thromboprophylaxis guidelines for this patient population, including recommendations on direct oral anticoagulant use.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ryan, Ciara and Odermarsky, Michal and De Wolf, Daniel and Kelleher, Sean T and Naumburg, Estelle and Reinhardt, Zdenka and Male, Christoph and Helbing, Wim and Bonnet, Damien and McMahon, Colin J}},
  issn         = {{1432-1076}},
  keywords     = {{Humans; Europe; Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data; Child; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use; Thromboembolism/prevention & control; Heart Defects, Congenital/complications; Cardiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Heart Diseases/complications; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/therapeutic use}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{528--528}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Pediatrics}},
  title        = {{European thromboprophylaxis practice amongst paediatric cardiology units}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00431-025-06351-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00431-025-06351-x}},
  volume       = {{184}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}