The topic was of strong interest, as demonstrated by the standing-room-only group of hospitalists attending Monday afternoon’s presentation at HM12 in San Diego on the brand new antithrombic therapy from ACCP. I doubt giving away a new IPAD 3 would have brought a bigger audience. However, no one left disappointed, leaving with valuable new information which could be used at the bedside.
The excellent, evidence-based rapid fire presentation by Catherine Curley took us as a tour guide through key aspects of the new guidelines. The methodology improvements were extremely important. She used the more-controversial topics as examples: treatment of submassive PE, use of catheter directed thrombolysis in patients with acute DVT, and the recommended VTE prophylaxis. She even threw in some anatomy lessons for us clinicians.
Key Takeaways:
- Major innovations in the methodology in the AT9. Focus on the absolute effects allow the provider to weight the benefit and risk of therapy easily, rigorous conflict of interests review of the editors, re-analysis of many older studies, and simplified recommendations with emphasis on summary of finding tables as opposed to texts .
- A strong focus on patient-centered outcomes. This is the first major guideline I have seen that recommends specifically focusing on the patients preferences.
Dr. Holder is medical director of hospitalist services and chief medical information officer at Decatur (Ill.) Memorial Hospital.