Incidence of venous thromboembolism and its pharmacological prophylaxis in Asian general surgery patients: a systematic review

Management of Patients Receiving Antiplatelet Therapy During Gastroenterological Surgery: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study (GSATT)

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of continuing preoperative aspirin monotherapy on surgical outcomes in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy (APT).

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of continuing preoperative aspirin monotherapy in patients undergoing APT in preventing thromboembolic consequences is mostly unknown.

METHODS

This prospective multicenter cohort study on the Safety and Feasibility of Gastroenterological Surgery in Patients Undergoing Antithrombotic Therapy (GSATT study) conducted at 14 clinical centers enrolled and screened patients between October 2019 and December 2021. The participants (n=1170) were assigned to the continued-APT group, discontinued-APT group, or non-APT group, and the surgical outcomes of each group were compared. Propensity score matching was performed between the continued and discontinued-APT groups to investigate the effect of continuing preoperative aspirin therapy on thromboembolic complications.

RESULTS

The rate of thromboembolic complications in the continued-APT group was substantially lower than that in the non-APT or discontinued-APT groups (0.5% vs 2.6% vs. 2.9%; P =0.027). Multivariate investigation of the entire cohort revealed that discontinuation of APT ( P <0.001) and chronic anticoagulant use ( P <0.001) were independent risk factors for postoperative thromboembolism. The post-matching evaluation demonstrated that the rates of thromboembolic complications were significantly different between the continued and discontinued-APT groups (0.6% vs 3.3%; P =0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

APT discontinuation after elective gastroenterological surgery increases the risk of thromboembolic consequences, whereas continuing preoperative aspirin greatly reduces this risk. The continuation of preoperative aspirin therapy in APT-received patients is considered one of the best alternatives for preventing thromboembolism during elective gastroenterological surgery.

A prospective study on risk assessment and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in general surgery patients

Aims and Objective

To evaluate the patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) based on Caprini VTE risk assessment scale and the effect of implementation of this scale on the use of thromboprophylaxis.

Materials and Methods

A prospective study was conducted, including patients who underwent major elective surgical procedures. Demographic details were noted, and VTE prophylaxis offered if needed. According to the VTE risk assessment scale, patients were categorised into very low-, low-, moderate-, and high-risk categories. The data were analysed statistically.

Results

A total of 500 patients (women = 259; men = 241) were enrolled in this study. Of them, eight women and nine men developed VTE (P = 0.691). The maximum number of patients who developed VTE belonged to 61-70 years group (n = 7). According to VTE risk assessment, 61 patients were categorised as low-risk, 217 patients as moderate-risk, and 222 patients were categorised as high-risk. A significant (P < 0.0005) correlation was found between body mass index (BMI) and VTE development. In obese patients with BMI >25, 14 patients developed VTE. Out of total, 329 patients received prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis. Of 284 patients who received pharmacologic prophylaxis, only three developed VTE (P = 0.002). Of 145 patients who received mechanical prophylaxis, 75 had high risk and none of them developed VTE. Four patients had mortality, and a significant (P = 0.022) correlation was found between mortality and VTE development.

Conclusion

According to Caprini risk assessment scale, the prophylaxis for VTE was effective in patients undergoing major elective general surgery, resulting in significant lowering of morbidity and mortality.

Low molecular weight heparin use and thrombotic complications in upper gastrointestinal resection for malignancy in a multi-ethnic Asian population

OBJECTIVE

Epidemiological studies showed substantially lower venous thromboembolic event risk among Asians compared to Caucasians. Yet no Asian guidelines addresses thromboprophylaxis following major surgery for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) malignancy. We aim to evaluate effects of LMWH on thromboembolic and bleeding events in our population.

METHODS

A retrospective study of all UGI resections for malignancy performed in a tertiary institution in Singapore between 2008 and 2018 was performed. Demographics, clinicopathological data and treatment outcome data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 399 patients were included in the study. 210 (52.6%) received postoperative LMWH. Basic demographics-age, gender, BMI, smoking status were comparable. Most patients had cancers stage III or above (42.5% vs 34.6%) cancers. Patients who had open surgery were more likely to receive postoperative LMWH (81.8% vs 67.2%, p = 0.002). Postoperative mortality (3.2% vs 2.9%) and venous thromboembolic events (1.6% vs 1.4%) were similar. However, LMWH use was associated with increased blood transfusion (29.0% vs 12.7%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Incidence of venous thromboembolism was low and similar irrespective of postoperative LMWH use. However, LMWH use was associated with increased postoperative bleeding. Hence, we do not support routine LMWH for Asian patients undergoing UGI resection for malignancy.

Risk of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common postoperative complication in patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer (GC). Although VTE incidence may vary among cancers, guidelines rarely stratify preventive methods for postoperative VTE by cancer type. The risk of VTE in patients undergoing surgery for GC remains unclear.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to determine the risk of VTE after GC surgery and discuss the clinical value of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in these cases. Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published from their inception to September 2022.

RESULTS

Overall, 13 studies (111,936 patients) were included. The overall 1-month incidence of VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) after GC surgery was 1.8% (95% CI, 0.8-3.1%; I²=98.5%), 1.2% (95% CI, 0.5-2.1%; I²=96.1%), and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1-1.1%; I²=96.3%), respectively. The prevalence of postoperative VTE was comparable between Asian and Western populations (1.8% vs. 1.8%; P > 0.05). Compared with mechanical prophylaxis alone, mechanical plus pharmacological prophylaxis was associated with a significantly lower 1-month rate of postoperative VTE and DVT (0.6% vs. 2.9% and 0.6% vs. 2.8%, respectively; all P < 0.05), but not PE (P > 0.05). The 1-month postoperative incidence of VTE was not significantly different between laparoscopic and open surgery (1.8% vs. 4.3%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing GC surgery do not have a high risk of VTE. The incidence of VTE after GC surgery is not significantly different between Eastern and Western patients. Mechanical plus pharmacological prophylaxis is more effective than mechanical prophylaxis alone in postoperative VTE prevention. The VTE risk is comparable between open and laparoscopic surgery for GC.

Study on the safety and effectiveness of low-dose vs. regular-dose fondaparinux in preventing venous thromboembolism prophylaxis following total knee arthroplasty

Background

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of low-dose (1.5 mg) fondaparinux for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in patients post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

We retrospectively identified 314 patients who carried out the primary TKAs and received fondaparinux for VTE chemoprophylaxis between July 2020 and December 2021. A total of 141 TKA patients were excluded according to the exclusion criteria. Two groups of patients were established: the low-dose group included 84 patients who injected 1.5 mg of fondaparinux, and the regular-dose group included 89 patients who injected 2.5 mg of fondaparinux. The pre-operative blood analysis and coagulation assays were performed. The surgical time, the incidence of symptomatic VET, blood loss, wound complication, bleeding, drainage, and mortality of patients were determined and assessed.

Results

The pre-operative blood analysis, body mass index, sex, age, and coagulation assays of patients in both groups were comparable. In terms of symptomatic pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, there was no significant difference (variation) between the two groups. However, patients in both groups showed a substantial difference in terms of blood loss, drain volume, wound complication, and transfusion rate.

Conclusion

In prevention of VET in patients post-TKA, low-dose fondaparin is as effective as conventional dose fondaparinux. A significant decrease in blood loss, post-surgical transfusion rates, and wound complications were detected in patients given low-dose fondaparinux compared to those receiving regular-dose fondaparinux.

Incidence and risk factors for venous thromboembolism in the Cancer-VTE Registry stomach cancer subcohort

BACKGROUND

The Cancer-VTE Registry was a large-scale, multicenter, prospective registry designed to investigate real-world data on venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence and risk factors in adult Japanese patients with solid tumors. This pre-specified subgroup analysis aimed to estimate the incidence of VTE, including VTE types other than symptomatic VTE, and identify risk factors of VTE in stomach cancer from the Cancer-VTE Registry.

METHODS

Stage II-IV stomach cancer patients who planned to initiate cancer therapy and underwent VTE screening within 2 months before registration were enrolled.

RESULTS

Of 1,896 patients enrolled, 131 (6.9%) had VTE at baseline, but 96.2% were asymptomatic. Female sex, age ≥ 65 years, VTE history, and D-dimer > 1.2 μg/mL were independent risk factors of VTE at baseline. Notably, patients with D-dimer > 1.2 µg/mL at the time of cancer diagnosis had an approximately 20-fold risk of VTE. During follow-up, event incidences were symptomatic VTE, 0.3%; incidental VTE requiring treatment, 1.1%; composite VTE, 1.4%; bleeding, 1.6%; cerebral infarction/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolic events, 0.7%; and all-cause death, 15.0%. The incidence of all-cause death was higher in patients with VTE vs without VTE at baseline (adjusted hazard ratio 1.67; 95% confidence interval 1.21-2.32; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

VTE prevalence at the time of cancer diagnosis was not negligible and was extremely high when the patients had high D-dimer. VTE screening by D-dimer before starting cancer treatment is advisable, even for asymptomatic patients, regardless of whether the patient is undergoing surgery or chemotherapy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN000024942.

Deep vein thrombosis after open hepatectomy or other major upper abdominal surgery in Taiwan: A prospective and cross-sectional study relevant to the issue of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis

BACKGROUD/PURPOSE

Venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is an important complication in patients who underwent open hepatic surgery as well as other major upper abdominal surgery. This study aims to investigate the occurrence of postoperative DVT without pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in such cohorts in Taiwan.

METHODS

This is a prospective, cross-sectional cohort study conducted from March 2010 to December 2011. Patients who underwent major upper abdominal surgery, including open hepatectomy, were enrolled. Color duplex compression ultrasonography (CUS) was used to detect DVT. Symptomatic PE was excluded if there were no suggestive respiratory symptoms or sudden death. Relevant clinicopathological and surgical information of each patient was collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

195 patients (118 male and 77 female) were enrolled, with a median age of 63.6 years. The majority (169/195, 88.7%) were treated for active malignancy. Totally 147 patients received open hepatectomy. Only one asymptomatic and distal postoperative DVT event was identified by CUS, which occurred on a 73-year-old female patient who received a left lateral segmental hepatectomy for removing the advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (pathologic stage, T3aN0M0). No cases of symptomatic PE or sudden death were observed. No correlation between DVT and precipitating factor was demonstrated in our cohort.

CONCLUSION

Without pharmacological thromboprophylaxis, a low rate of postoperative DVT among patients undergoing open hepatectomy (0.7%, 1/147) or major upper abdominal surgery (0.5%, 1/195) in Taiwan was reported. A distinctively regional role of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis for hepatic surgery was also suggested by our data.

Nursing Care and Barriers for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Patients: A Qualitative Study

Purpose

To determine barriers to preventing venous thromboembolism in total knee and hip arthroplasty patients by surgical nurses.

Methods

This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach. The semi-structured interview questionnaire included two questions focused on nursing care practices for VTE prevention and barriers faced during VTE prophylaxis in total knee and hip arthroplasty patients. Study data were collected from 10 surgical nurses through semi-structured interviews in July 2021.

Results

After analyzing the data, two main themes, five categories, and fourteen subcategories were developed. The main themes included "Nursing care" and "Barriers." Two categories were reflected in terms of nursing care: general care and mechanical prophylaxis. Regarding barriers, the analysis of the interview reflected three main categories: "lack of professional competence", "work conditions challenges", and "resistance from patients".

Conclusion

Educational institutions must play a critical role in preparing surgical nurses by establishing clinical nurse specialist programs and post-graduate diplomas programs that sufficiently prepare nurses for clinical settings.

Establishment and Validation of a Postoperative VTE Prediction Model in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Radical Resection: CRSPOT Nomogram

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a life-threatening postoperative complication of malignant tumors. We identified risk factors for postoperative VTE in patients undergoing radical resection of colorectal cancer (CRC) and constructed and validated a clinical prediction model. Clinical data of 982 patients undergoing radical resection of CRC from September 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022, in Ningxia Medical University General Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were randomly divided into training (n = 617) and validation groups (n = 264). Data included baseline characteristics, preoperative complications, examination results, and intraoperative and postoperative indicators. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors, build a predictive model, and draw a predictive nomogram (CRSPOT). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) for evaluating the model's predictive ability. Independent risk factors for postoperative VTE were as follows: postoperative hemoglobin of <10 g/L (odds ratio [OR] 0.413, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.220-0.777), postoperative D-dimer of ≥3.5μg/mL (OR 2.156, 95% CI 1.145-4.061), BMI of ≥25 kg/m2 (OR 2.313, 95% CI 1.225-4.369), operation time of ≥4 h (OR 2.292, 95% CI 1.232-4.262), lower extremity varicose veins (OR 4.499, 95% CI 1.764-11.476), postoperative ileus (OR 5.760, 95% CI 2.031-16.337), and postoperative hypoxemia (OR 9.230, 95% CI 4.562-18.672). The nomogram's AUC was 0.826, demonstrating a reliable predictive ability. The CRSPOT nomogram reliably predicts postoperative VTE in patients undergoing radical resection of CRC, identifying high-risk patients early, allowing early implementation of antithrombotic strategies, and helping to reduce the incidence and mortality of postoperative VTE.

Unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after hepatic resection: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Two systematic reviews summarized the efficacy and safety of pharmacological prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hepatic resection, but both lacked a discussion of the differences in the pharmacological prophylaxis of VTE in different ethnicities. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) or unfractionated heparin (UFH) for VTE prophylaxis in Asian and Caucasian patients who have undergone hepatic resection.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP databases for studies reporting the primary outcomes of VTE incidence, bleeding events, and all-cause mortality from January 2000 to July 2022.

RESULTS

Ten studies involving 4318 participants who had undergone hepatic resection were included: 6 in Asians and 4 in Caucasians. A significant difference in VTE incidence was observed between the experimental and control groups (odds ratio [OR] = 0.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20, 0.74, P = .004). No significant difference in bleeding events and all-cause mortality was observed (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.80, 2.09, P = .30; OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.36, 1.42, P = .33, respectively). Subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity showed a significant difference in the incidence of VTE in Asians (OR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.39, P < .0001), but not in Caucasians (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.39, 1.23, P = .21). No significant differences in bleeding events were found between Asians (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 0.48, 5.37, P = .45) and Caucasians (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.58, 2.12, P = .75). The sensitivity analysis showed that Ejaz's study was the main source of heterogeneity, and when Ejaz's study was excluded, a significant difference in VTE incidence was found in Caucasians (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.93, P = .02).

CONCLUSION

This study's findings indicate that the application of UFH or LMWH for VTE prophylaxis after hepatic resection is efficacious and safe in Asians and Caucasians. It is necessary for Asians to receive drug prophylaxis for VTE after hepatic resection. This study can provide a reference for the development of guidelines in the future, especially regarding the pharmacological prevention of VTE in different ethnicities.

Incidence and risk factors for venous thromboembolism, bleeding, and death in colorectal cancer (Cancer-VTE Registry)

The impact of venous thromboembolism in Japanese colorectal cancer patients has not been elucidated. This prespecified subanalysis of the Cancer‐VTE Registry aimed to report venous thromboembolism and event data after 1 year of follow‐up in 2477 patients with colorectal cancer and investigate risk factors of venous thromboembolism. Of 2477 patients, 158 (6.4%) had venous thromboembolism in venous thromboembolism screening at enrollment. Asymptomatic distal deep‐vein thrombosis accounted for 123/158 (77.8%) of venous thromboembolism cases. During the follow‐up period, symptomatic, incidental events requiring treatment and composite venous thromboembolism incidences were 0.3%, 0.8%, and 1.0%, respectively. The incidence of bleeding events, cerebral infarction/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolic event, and all‐cause death were 1.0%, 0.3%, and 4.8%, respectively. These results were consistent with the main study results. In multivariable analysis, venous thromboembolism at baseline was a risk factor of composite venous thromboembolism during the follow‐up period. Japanese patients with colorectal cancer and advancing cancer stage before treatment had more frequent venous thromboembolism complications at baseline, higher incidence of venous thromboembolism events during cancer treatment, and higher mortality.

Impact of Antithrombotic Therapy on the Outcome of Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Literature Review

In recent years, many operations have been performed as laparoscopic surgeries in the field of gastrointestinal surgery, but the effect of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) on hemorrhagic complications in patients who have undergone laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery remains unknown. In addition, the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have not yet been concluded. The purpose of this systematic review study is to clarify the effect of ATT on hemorrhagic complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. Articles published between 2013 and 2020 were searched on Google Scholar and PubMed, and research regarding ATT and laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery was included after a thorough examination of each study. Each study yielded information on the study's design, type of surgical procedures, antithrombotic medications used, and surgical outcomes (both thromboembolic and hemorrhagic consequences). This systematic review comprised 20 published papers, including a total of 12,751 patients who received laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. Four studies on thrombosis prevention in VTE were randomized clinical trials, and the other 16 were cohort or case-control studies. For the effects of prolonged use of ATT on hemorrhagic complications, most studies demonstrated that laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery with continued preoperative aspirin could be safely conducted without an increase in the frequency of bleeding complications. On the other hand, most included papers have shown that patients receiving VTE pharmacoprophylaxis may be at an increased risk of bleeding complications, but its effectiveness has not been statistically proven, especially in the Asian patient population. Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery in patients on prolonged ATT can be safely conducted with no increase in the incidence of hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. The efficacy and safety of VTE pharmacoprophylaxis in laparoscopic colorectal surgery is still at issue. It is necessary to establish available protocols or guidelines by validating reliable studies.

Construction of Risk Assessment Model for Venous Thromboembolism After Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Chinese Single-Center Study

Objective

A retrospective study was carried out to construct a postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment model (RAM) applicable for Chinese colorectal cancer patients.

Methods

541 Patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery from June 2019 to May 2020 at Sir-Run-Run-Shaw Hospital affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine were enrolled in this study. Multi-factor analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors of VTE. A novel RAM of VTE which we called Sir-Run-Run-Shaw VTE RAM were constructed basing on the independent risk factors. Another study cohort consisted of 287 colorectal cancer patients underwent surgery from January 2021 to June 2021was used for model evaluation.

Results

The incidence of VTE after colorectal cancer surgery was 12.0%(65/541). Among the 65 VTE Patients, DVT accounted for 92.3% (60/65) and DVT + PE accounted for 7.7% (5/65). Multi-factor analysis showed that age ≥ 69 years ( P < 0.01), preoperative plasma D-dimer ≥ 0.49 mg/L ( P = .004), stage IV of cancer ( P = .018) and transfusion ( P = .004) are independent risk factors of VTE after surgery. Sir-Run-Run-Shaw VTE RAM includes the above 4 factors, and the total score is 4 points. The score of the low, medium and high risk groups are 0, 1 and ≥2 points. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of Sir-Run-Run-Shaw VTE RAM is 0.769, while Caprini RAM is 0.656. There is statistical difference between the two risk score tables ( Z = 2.337, P = .0195).

Conclusion

A VTE RAM is constructed basing on a single center retrospective study. This score table may be applicable for Chinese patients with colorectal cancer surgery.

Perioperative Short Term Prophylaxis against Deep Vein Thrombosis after Major Abdominal Cancer Surgery: Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis given for short-term duration to the patients who underwent major abdominal surgery for colorectal and gastric cancer.

Methods

Materials and This retrospective cohort study was performed in consecutive patients who underwent major abdominal surgery for colorectal and gastric cancer and received short-term pharmacological thromboprophylaxis during hospital stay were enrolled. Complete duplex ultrasonography of the lower limbs was performed for all patients to investigate both symptomatic and asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Results

Overall, 278 patients were evaluated for inclusion and 62 colorectal and 27 gastric cancer patients were enrolled. Of 89 patients, the incidence of total and symptomatic DVT was 4.5% and 2.2%, respectively. The patients with symptomatic DVT were diagnosed within the first four months. The incidence of coronary artery disease, mucinous adenocarcinoma and vascular tumor invasion were significantly higher in patients with DVT (P-values<0.001, 0.009, and 0.02, respectively).

Conclusion

Short-term pharmacological thromboprophylaxis after major abdominal surgery for colorectal and gastric cancer does not increase symptomatic DVT rates of patients with low Caprini score. Postoperative DVT surveillance may benefit patients with coronary artery disease, mucinous adenocarcinoma or vascular invasion of the tumor.

Safety of pancreatic surgery with special reference to antithrombotic therapy: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Postpancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is the most severe type of complication after pancreatic surgery, although the effect of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) on PPH is largely unknown. The safety and efficacy of chemical thromboprophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains controversial.

AIM

To elucidate the effect of ATT on PPH.

METHODS

Published articles between 2013 and 2020 were searched from PubMed and Google Scholar, and after careful reviewing of all studies, studies concerning ATT and pancreatic surgery were included. Data such as study design, type of surgical procedures, type of antithrombotic drugs, and surgical outcome were extracted from the studies.

RESULTS

Nineteen published articles with a total of 37863 patients who underwent pancreatic surgery were included in the systematic review. Fourteen were cohort studies, with only three being prospective in nature. Two studies demonstrated that in patients receiving chronic ATT, which were mostly managed by heparin bridging, the risk of PPH was higher compared with those without ATT, and one study showed that patients with direct-acting oral anticoagulants managed by heparin bridging had significantly higher postoperative bleeding rates than others. The remaining six studies reported that pancreatic surgery can be safely performed in patients receiving chronic ATT, even under preoperative aspirin continuation. Concerning chemical thromboprophylaxis for VTE, most studies have shown a potentially high risk of PPH in patients undergoing chemical thromboprophylaxis; however, its effectiveness against VTE has not been statistically demonstrated, particularly among Asian patients.

CONCLUSION

Pancreatic surgery in chronically ATT-received patients can be safely performed without an increase in the occurrence of PPH, although the safety and efficacy of chemical thromboprophylaxis for VTE during pancreatic surgery is still controversial. Further investigation using reliable studies with good design is required to establish definite protocols or guidelines.

Safety of liver resection in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Little is unknown about the effect of chronic antithrombotic therapy (ATT) on bleeding complication during or after hepatectomy. In addition, the safety and effectiveness of chemical prevention for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is still controversial.

AIM

To clarify the effect of ATT on thromboembolism and bleeding after liver resection.

METHODS

Articles published between 2011 and 2020 were searched from Google Scholar and PubMed, and after careful reviewing of all studies, studies concerning ATT and liver resection were included. Data such as study design, type of surgery, type of antithrombotic agents, and surgical outcome were extracted from the studies.

RESULTS

Sixteen published articles, including a total of 8300 patients who underwent hepatectomy, were eligible for inclusion in the current review. All studies regarding patients undergoing chronic ATT showed that hepatectomy can be performed safely, and three studies have also shown the safety and efficacy of preoperative continuation of aspirin. Regarding chemical prevention for VTE, some studies have shown a potentially high risk of bleeding complications in patients undergoing chemical thromboprophylaxis; however, its efficacy against VTE has not been shown statistically, especially among Asian patients.

CONCLUSION

Hepatectomy in patients with chronic ATT can be performed safely without increasing the incidence of bleeding complications, but the safety and effectiveness of chemical thromboprophylaxis against VTE during liver resection is still controversial, especially in the Asian population. Establishing a clear protocol or guideline requires further research using reliable studies with good design.

Construction and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients After Laparoscopic Hepatectomy: A Retrospective Study

Background

The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) is unclear, and there is no effective method for DVT risk assessment in these patients.

Methods

The data from the total of 355 consecutive HCC patients who underwent LH were included. A DVT risk algorithm was developed using a training set (TS) of 243 patients, and its predictive performance was evaluated in both the TS and a validation set (VS) of 112 patients. The model was then used to develop a DVT risk nomogram (TRN).

Results

The incidence of DVT in the present study was 18.6%. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities and operative position were independent risk factors for DVT in the TS. The model based on these factors had a good predictive ability. In the TS, it had an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve of 0.861, Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) goodness of fit p value of 0.626, sensitivity of 44.4%, specificity of 96.5%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 74.1%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 88.4%, and accuracy of 86.8%. In the VS, it had an AUC of 0.818, H-L p value of 0.259, sensitivity of 38.1%, specificity of 98.9%, PPV of 88.9%, NPV of 87.4%, and accuracy of 87.5%. The TRN performed well in both the internal and the external validation, indicating a good clinical application value. The TRN had a better predictive value of DVT than the Caprini score (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The incidence of DVT after LH was high, and should not be neglected in HCC patients. The TRN provides an efficacious method for DVT risk evaluation and individualized pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.

Venous Thromboembolism in a Single Korean Trauma Center: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Assessing the Validity of VTE Diagnostic Tools

PURPOSE

Trauma increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients. However, the risk and incidence of VTE in Korean trauma patients are limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the incidence and identify potential predictors of VTE occurrence in Korean trauma patients. Moreover, we assessed the validity of the Greenfield risk assessment profile (RAP) and the trauma embolic scoring system (TESS) in these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used the data of trauma patients who were admitted to a regional trauma center between 2010 and 2016 and were eligible for entry into the Korea Trauma Data Bank. Clinical data were collected from hospital medical records. The patient's baseline characteristics and clinical data were compared between VTE and non-VTE groups.

RESULTS

We included 9472 patients. The overall VTE rate was 0.87% (n=82), with 56 (0.59%) events of deep vein thrombosis and 39 (0.41%) of pulmonary embolism. Multiple regression analysis revealed that variables, including VTE history, pelvic-bone fracture, ventilator use, and hospitalization period, were significant, potential predictors of VTE occurrence. This study showed that increased RAP and TESS scores were correlated with increased VTE rate, with rates of 1% and 1.5% for the RAP and TESS scores of 6, respectively. The optimal cut-off value for RAP and TESS scores was 6.

CONCLUSION

RAP and TESS, which are well-known diagnostic tools, demonstrated potentials in predicting the VTE occurrence in Korean trauma patients. Additionally, patients with pelvic-bone fractures and long-term ventilator treatment should be carefully examined for possible VTE.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism Following 2462 Major Abdomino-Pelvic Surgeries in Tertiary Hospital

Purpose

To determine the incidence and risk factor of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Thai populations and to evaluate morbidity, mortality, bleeding complications and the benefit of thromboprophylaxis in real-world practice.

Patients and Methods

We performed a retrospective, single-center, cohort study of patients from all age groups who underwent elective open or laparoscopic major abdomino-pelvic surgery between January 2008 and December 2018 at Chulabhorn Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. We collected general medical information and specific data based on items from the Caprini risk scoring system.

Results

A total of 2462 major abdomino-pelvic surgeries were included. The study population consisted of 742 males (30.1%) and 1720 females (69.9%) aged 54.59 ± 13.27 years. The incidence of VTE in Thai patients that underwent major abdominal surgery was 0.48%. The most frequent influencing factor for VTE was a history of pulmonary embolism, which increased the risk of VTE 98.28-fold, whereas a history of deep vein thrombosis increased the risk of VTE by 12.34-fold. Other factors influencing VTE development were obesity, anticoagulant use, postoperative chemotherapy, preoperative chemotherapy, endometrium cancer, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage 4 and American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) class 4. Protective factors included no history of VTE, laparoscopic surgery, TNM stage 0 and benign disease and BMI<30. VTE significantly increased mortality whereas following ACCP guideline reduced mortality.

Conclusion

Post-operative VTE incidence in Thai patients undergoing major abdomino-pelvic surgery was lower compared with Western patients. Factors influencing for VTE were history of VTE, anticoagulant use, postoperative chemotherapy, preoperative chemotherapy, endometrium cancer, TNM stage 4 and ACCP class 4. Following ACCP guideline reduced the incidence of mortality.

Chinese orthopaedic nurses' knowledge, attitude and venous thromboembolic prophylactic practices: A multicentric cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism is a severe preventable complication among orthopaedic surgical patients. Integrating therapeutic guidelines into clinical practice can help improve patient safety and reduce the burden of this pathology. Improving the quality of patient care is important for bridging the gap between the prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism and therapeutic guidelines.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed at evaluating the knowledge, attitude, and venous thromboembolism and prophylaxis practices of Chinese orthopaedic nurses to guide quality care improvements.

METHODS

The data used in this study are secondary data obtained from a multicentric survey. An anonymous questionnaire was used to measure the attitude and knowledge of venous thromboembolic prophylaxis among orthopaedic nurses. VTE prophylactic practices were extracted from medical records within the electronic case report form immediately after the nurses' investigations. The STROBE statement for observational studies was applied.

RESULTS

Results indicated that although 94.0% of the responding nurses had attended training courses in their wards, a majority of them (68.9%) achieved a median knowledge score of 7 points or below (range 0-9). Knowledge regarding the proper use of prophylaxis, identification of risk factors, signs and symptoms for pulmonary embolism was limited. Self-reported attitudes underestimate the relationships between venous thromboembolism and low-quality nursing care. Pharmacological prophylaxis was highly used (90.9%), while the utilisation of mechanical prophylaxis and its proper use was relatively low.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese orthopaedic nurses demonstrated enthusiasm for venous thromboembolism and prophylaxis. Their knowledge needs to be improved, including the proper use of prophylaxis, identification of risk factors, signs and symptoms. Mechanical prophylaxis practice for VTE prevention after THA and TKA surgical procedures is not optimistic. Further studies should analyse the causes from multiple perspectives, including the availability of resources, the knowledge and attitude of doctors, nurses and patients.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The findings from this study can be used to develop and implement interventions for venous thromboembolism after orthopaedic surgery.

Perioperative management and anaesthetic considerations in pelvic exenterations using Delphi methodology: results from the PelvEx Collaborative

BACKGROUND

The multidisciplinary perioperative and anaesthetic management of patients undergoing pelvic exenteration is essential for good surgical outcomes. No clear guidelines have been established, and there is wide variation in clinical practice internationally. This consensus statement consolidates clinical experience and best practice collectively, and systematically addresses key domains in the perioperative and anaesthetic management.

METHODS

The modified Delphi methodology was used to achieve consensus from the PelvEx Collaborative. The process included one round of online questionnaire involving controlled feedback and structured participant response, two rounds of editing, and one round of web-based voting. It was held from December 2019 to February 2020. Consensus was defined as more than 80 per cent agreement, whereas less than 80 per cent agreement indicated low consensus.

RESULTS

The final consensus document contained 47 voted statements, across six key domains of perioperative and anaesthetic management in pelvic exenteration, comprising preoperative assessment and preparation, anaesthetic considerations, perioperative management, anticipating possible massive haemorrhage, stress response and postoperative critical care, and pain management. Consensus recommendations were developed, based on consensus agreement achieved on 34 statements.

CONCLUSION

The perioperative and anaesthetic management of patients undergoing pelvic exenteration is best accomplished by a dedicated multidisciplinary team with relevant domain expertise in the setting of a specialized tertiary unit. This consensus statement has addressed key domains within the framework of current perioperative and anaesthetic management among patients undergoing pelvic exenteration, with an international perspective, to guide clinical practice, and has outlined areas for future clinical research.

D-dimer-based screening for early diagnosis of venous thromboembolism after hepatectomy

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of a novel diagnostic algorithm based on serum D-dimer levels for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hepatectomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 742 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy in our hospital from 2009 to 2019. From 2015, we routinely measured serum D-dimer level postoperatively and computed tomography was performed when D-dimer level was ≥ 20 μg/mL.

RESULTS

VTE was diagnosed in 26 patients and pulmonary embolism (PE) was diagnosed in 18 patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that resected liver weight ≥ 120 g is a significant predictor of VTE (P = 0.011). The incidence of VTE from 2015 to 2019 was greater than that from 2009 to 2014 (5.0% versus 2.1%, P = 0.044). The number of low-risk PE patients between 2015 and 2019 was significantly greater than that between 2009 and 2014 (P = 0.013). There was no in-hospital mortality of patients with PE from 2015 to 2019.

CONCLUSION

Patients who undergo hepatectomy are at high risk for VTE, especially when the resected liver weight is high. The proposed diagnostic algorithm based on serum D-dimer levels for VTE after hepatectomy can be useful for early diagnosis.

The impact of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis and disease-stage on postoperative bleeding following colorectal cancer surgery

Background

Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery is internationally recommended for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the risk factors of postoperative bleeding after elective surgery for patients with primary CRC receiving pharmacological thromboprophylaxis of fondaparinux or enoxaparin.

Methods

We experienced consecutive 266 patients who underwent elective surgery for CRC during the study period. Finally, the medical records of 218 patients with CRC administrated fondaparinux or enoxaparin following surgery were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate symptomatic VTE until 28 days and postoperative bleeding comparing perioperative D-dimer levels.

Results

The significant differences in TNM classification staging and type of thromboprophylaxis were observed between postoperative bleeding-negative and bleeding-positive group. There was no statistical significance among other backgrounds of patients between the two groups. One case (0.46%) of symptomatic VTE and total 11 cases (5%) of postoperative bleeding were observed. In the univariate analysis, fondaparinux thromboprophylaxis and early disease-stage CRC (stages 0 and I) were associated with risk for postoperative bleeding. Multivariate analysis revealed that fondaparinux thromboprophylaxis was identified as an independent risk factor of postoperative bleeding. Moreover, preoperative levels of D-dimer in patients with stage IV CRC were significantly higher than those with the other stages. The significant elevation in preoperative D-dimer was also observed in patients with stage II CRC compared to those with stage I CRC. Perioperative levels of D-dimer in patients with advanced disease-stage CRC (stages II, III, and IV) were significantly higher than those in patients with early disease-stage CRC.

Conclusions

Fondaparinux administration and early disease-stage CRC appeared to be risk factors for postoperative bleeding in patients with pharmacological thromboprophylaxis undergoing surgical treatment for CRC. Patients’ hypercoagulative condition depending on disease progression of CRC might be related to the occurrence of postoperative bleeding following CRC surgery.

Incidence and risk of venous thromboembolism in patients following appendectomy: a nationwide cohort study

Surgery may lead to poor blood flow and hypercoagulation. Few studies have investigated the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Asian patients following appendectomy. We conducted a nationwide cohort study to investigate the risk of VTE in patients who underwent appendectomy compared with those who did not in Taiwan. We studied the entire hospitalized population in Taiwan from 2000 to 2012, with a follow-up period extending to the end of 2013. We identified patients who underwent appendectomy in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database as the appendectomy cohort, and selected a nonappendectomy cohort from the general population that was 4:1 frequency-matched by age (5-year interval), sex, and index year for each appendectomy case. We used Cox models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for symptomatic VTE in the appendectomy cohort for comparison with the nonappendectomy cohort. The appendectomy cohort exhibited a higher incidence of symptomatic VTE than the nonappendectomy cohort (5.90 vs. 3.29 per 10,000 person-years). After adjustment for covariates, a 1.68-fold HR for symptomatic VTE was observed in the appendectomy cohort (95% CI 1.56-1.81). Compared with the nonappendectomy cohort, the patients who underwent open appendectomy had a 1.73-fold increased adjusted HR for symptomatic VTE (95% CI 1.61-1.87). Laparoscopic appendectomy was not significantly associated with symptomatic VTE. An 8.15-fold higher adjusted HR for VTE was observed in patients who underwent appendectomy within the first month after surgery compared with the nonappendectomy cohort. Open appendectomy carried an increased risk of symptomatic VTE. Laparoscopic appendectomy was not significantly associated with symptomatic VTE.

Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Neurointensive Care Unit Patients-Does Prophylaxis Modality Make Any Difference?

Background and aims

To determine the incidence of upper and lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using ultrasonography (USG) in adult patients admitted to neuro-medical and neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU).

Materials and methods

In this prospective observational study, patients admitted to the medical and surgical neuro-ICU and remained in the ICU for more than 48 hours were recruited. All patients were clinically examined for DVT. Basilic and axillary veins in the upper limbs and popliteal and femoral veins in the lower limbs were screened for DVT using USG. USG examination was performed on the day of admission to ICU and thereafter every 3rd day till discharge from ICU or death. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) stockings were applied to the lower limbs to all the patients in both ICUs. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) was given subcutaneously to neuromedical ICU patients, while in surgical ICU, it was left to the discretion of the neurosurgeons.

Results

A total of 130 adult patients were admitted to the ICU during the 8 month study period. Thirty patients were excluded and the remaining 98 patients’ (38 in medical and 60 in surgical ICU) data were analyzed. None of the 38 medical ICU patients developed DVT, while in neurosurgical ICU, 4 out of 60 patients developed DVT.

Conclusion

A combination of UFH and IPC stockings were effective in minimizing the DVT in neuromedical ICU patients. In surgical patients, through IPC stockings were effective, UFH can be considered for patients with intracranial malignancy.

How to cite this article

Behera SS, Krishnakumar M, Muthuchellappan R, Philip M. Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Neurointensive Care Unit Patients—Does Prophylaxis Modality Make Any Difference? Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, January 2019;23(1):43-46.

Prevalence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in postoperative patients: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in postoperative patients.

METHODS

This descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted from August 2016 to October 2016 at two university hospitals and one public hospital. Total 217,354 patients records who underwent surgery in between 2010 and 2015 were examined. The study sample consisted of 123 patients who had postoperative venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and whose discharge details, consultation data, diagnostic reports, and tests were examined in detail.

RESULTS

The prevalence of VTE in postoperative patients was 5.6/10,000. The mean age of the patients was 60.22±18.56 years. Of 123 patients, 51.20% were male, 30.90% were smokers, 46.30% had a comorbid disease, and 27.60% were diagnosed with cancer. Of the patients who had postoperative VTE, 65.0% had major surgery. Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis was used in only 24.4% of patients (n=30).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of VTE in the present study is lower than that in other studies. Because surgery is a risk factor for VTE, patients who will be operated should be assessed. Considering the present results, we can assume that patients' conditions are not being assessed appropriately. In addition, findings indicate that a standard for preventing VTE has not yet been established.

Analysis of risk factors for venous thromboembolism in patients after thoracic surgery: A clinical study of 167 cases

Background

This study aims to identify risk factors of venous thromboembolism in the patients undergoing thoracic surgery.

Methods

A total of 167 patients (107 males, 60 females; mean age 56.7±16.8 years; range 16 to 81 years) who underwent thoracic surgery between September 2015 and December 2016 were included in this study. D-dimer and C-reactive protein values were analyzed and clinical data recorded. The patients received color Doppler ultrasound and thoracic computed tomography before and after surgery. The risk factors for venous thromboembolism were analyzed.

Results

Of the patients, 57 (34.1%) developed venous thromboembolism after thoracic surgery, among whom two patients developed pulmonary embolism and another 55 developed deep vein thrombosis. Age, D-dimer, operation time, and body mass index of venous thromboembolism patients were significantly higher than non-venous thromboembolism patients. There was no significant difference in the C-reactive protein values between the two patient groups. Age, smoking history, operation time, and body mass index were found to be the risk factors of venous thromboembolism. There was a significant difference in the incidence of venous thromboembolism among different surgeries. The patients who underwent esophagectomy had the highest incidence of thrombosis.

Conclusion

Age, smoking history, operation time and body mass index are independent risk factors for venous thromboembolism. A special attention should be given to the patients undergoing esophagectomy to prevent the development of venous thromboembolism.

Epidemiology of venous thromboembolism in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

INTRODUCTION

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is among the three major causes of cardiovascular diseases worldwide after ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Knowledge on the global epidemiology of this condition is deficient in Africa. Accurate data are needed to evaluate the burden of VTE in Africa to design effective preventive and treatment strategies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarise epidemiological data on VTE in Africa and to evaluate the use of prophylaxis in African patients at risk of VTE.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Medline, Embase, Scopus and African Journal Online will be searched for relevant abstracts of studies published between 1 January 1986 and 5 December 2016, without language restriction. After a screening of abstracts, study selection, data extraction and assessment of the risk of bias, we shall assess studies individually for clinical and statistical heterogeneity. Appropriate meta-analytic technics will then be used to pool studies judged to be clinically homogeneous. Funnel-plots analysis and Egger's test will be used to detect publication bias. Results will be presented by geographical region (Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Africa). This systematic review will be reported according to the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Guidelines.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The current study will be based on published data, and thus ethics consideration is not required. This review is expected to provide relevant data to help in quantifying the magnitude of this disease in Africa. The final report of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and the findings will be submitted to relevant health authorities.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The protocol for this review has been published in the International Prospective Register of systematic reviews (http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO), registration number: PROSPERO CRD42017056253.

Quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease in Asia: the results of a multinational web-based survey in the 2(nd) Asian Organization of Crohn's and Colitis (AOCC) meeting in Seoul

Background/Aims

The quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been systematically estimated. The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of quality of IBD care in Asian countries.

Methods

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted between March 2014 and May 2014. The questionnaire was adopted from "An adult inflammatory bowel disease physician performance measure set" developed by the American Gastroenterological Association. If the respondent executed the performance measure in more than 70% of patients, the measure was regarded as well performed.

Results

A total of 353 medical doctors from Asia completed the survey (116 from Korea, 114 from China, 88 from Japan, 17 from Taiwan, 8 from Hong-Kong, 4 from India, 3 from Singapore, and 1 each from the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia). The delivery of performance measures, however, varied among countries. The documentation of IBD and tuberculosis screening before anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy were consistently performed well, while pneumococcal immunization and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolisms in hospitalized patients were performed less frequently in all countries. Physician awareness was positively associated with the delivery of performance measures. Variations were also noted in reasons for non-performance or low performance of quality measures, and the two primary reasons cited were consideration of the measure to be unimportant and lack of time.

Conclusions

The delivery of performance measures varies among physicians in Asian countries, and reflects variations in the quality of care among the countries. This variation should be recognized to improve the quality of care in Asian countries.

Prospective Study on the Incidence of Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism in Korean Patients with Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE

Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is routinely recommended for Western cancer patients undergoing major surgery for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, it is uncertainwhetherroutine administration of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is necessary in all Asian surgical cancer patients. This prospective study was conducted to examine the incidence of and risk factors for postoperative VTE in Korean colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study comprised two cohorts, and none of patients received perioperative pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. In cohort A (n=400), patients were routinely screened for VTE using lower-extremity Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) on postoperative days 5-14. In cohort B (n=148), routine DUS was not performed, and imaging was only performed when there were symptoms or signs that were suspicious for VTE. The primary endpoint was the VTE incidence at 4 weeks postoperatively in cohort A.

RESULTS

The postoperative incidence of VTE was 3.0% (n=12) in cohort A. Among the 12 patients, eight had distal calf vein thromboses and one had symptomatic thrombosis. Age ≥ 70 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.61), ≥ 2 comorbidities (OR, 13.42), and white blood cell counts of > 10,000/μL (OR, 17.43) were independent risk factors for postoperative VTE (p < 0.05). In cohort B, there was one case of VTE (0.7%).

CONCLUSION

The postoperative incidence of VTE, which included asymptomatic cases, was 3.0% in Korean CRC patients who did not receive pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. Perioperative pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis should be administered to Asian CRC patients on a risk-stratified basis.