Discussion
Treatment decisions in neurosurgical patients who subsequently develop VTE are often made on an empirical, individual basis, including evaluating the expected morbidity and mortality associated with different treatment options. The findings in the current study reveal that many of these patients received initial therapy at lower than recommended doses of heparin, most likely due to the concern that many physicians may feel for the risk of bleeding. Interestingly, however, we found that the rate of fatal PE exceeded the rate of fatal bleeding, particularly within the first week of therapy. All 8 patients with fatal PE in our series died during the first week after diagnosis of VTE. This included 4 patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation and 2 patients with a vena cava filter. Although these interventions are important, deaths still occur. The absence of rebleeding or deaths from hemorrhage during the first week, despite the use of anticoagulants, is likely the most interesting finding in this study.