A nomogram for predicting risk factors for lower limb deep venous thrombosis in elderly postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit.

AimTo investigate the incidence and risk factors for lower limb deep venous thrombosis in elderly postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit.DesignA retrospective study.MethodsFour hundred and one elderly patients (defined as aged ≥60 years) with severe traumatic brain injury who had undergone surgery and were admitted to the intensive care unit were enrolled in this study. We collected data on the incidence of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and analyzed its influencing factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the associations between these factors and the occurrence of DVT. A nomogram was developed, and calibration curves were utilized to evaluate the model's accuracy. Additionally, a receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to assess the model's clinical discriminatory power.ResultsThe incidence of lower limb deep venous thrombosis in elderly postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit was 25.69%. The final nomogram included age, intraoperative hypothermia, intraoperative bleeding volume, surgery time, D-dimer level, any organ failure, and body mass index as independent risk factors. The standard curve fit well with the calibrated prediction curve. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.976 (95% CI: 0.958-0.994), and the model had good discrimination ability and reliability.ConclusionsThe risk factors for lower limb deep venous thrombosis in elderly postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit can be preliminarily assessed via the nomogram prediction model. This information may help guide medical staff in making reasonable decisions regarding the management of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis.Patient or Public ContributionElderly postoperative patients with severe traumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit participated in the retrospective investigation of this study.