Temporal trends in venous thromboembolism after radical cystectomy

Sustained success of a Caprini postoperative venous thromboembolism prevention protocol over one decade

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to review the long-term efficacy of a post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention program at our institution.

METHODS

We performed a review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) data at our hospital from January 2008-December 2022. The primary outcome was risk-adjusted VTE events.

RESULTS

In 2009, a postoperative general surgery patient was three times more likely to have a postoperative VTE event than predicted (O/E ratio 3.02, 95% CI 1.99-4.40). After implementing a mandatory VTE risk assessment model and a risk-commensurate prophylaxis protocol in the electronic medical record in 2011, the odds ratio of a patient developing a postoperative VTE declined to 0.70 by 2014 (95% CI 0.40-1.23). This success persisted through 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the implementation of a standardized postoperative VTE prevention program in 2011, our institution has sustained a desirably low likelihood of VTE events in general surgery patients.

In-Hospital Venous Thromboembolism and Pulmonary Embolism After Major Urologic Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to test for temporal trends of in-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after major urologic cancer surgery (MUCS).

METHODS

In the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2010-2019), this study identified non-metastatic radical cystectomy (RC), radical prostatectomy (RP), radical nephrectomy (RN), and partial nephrectomy (PN) patients. Temporal trends of VTE and PE and multivariable logistic regression analyses (MLR) addressing VTE or PE, and mortality with VTE or PE were performed.

RESULTS

Of 196,915 patients, 1180 (1.0%) exhibited VTE and 583 (0.3%) exhibited PE. The VTE rates increased from 0.6 to 0.7% (estimated annual percentage change [EAPC] + 4.0%; p = 0.01). Conversely, the PE rates decreased from 0.4 to 0.2% (EAPC - 4.5%; p = 0.01). No difference was observed in mortality with VTE (EAPC - 2.1%; p = 0.7) or with PE (EAPC - 1.2%; p = 0.8). In MLR relative to RP, RC (odds ratio [OR] 5.1), RN (OR 4.5), and PN (OR 3.6) were associated with higher VTE risk (all p < 0.001). Similarly in MLR relative to RP, RC (OR 4.6), RN (OR 3.3), and PN (OR 3.9) were associated with higher PE risk (all p < 0.001). In MLR, the risk of mortality was higher when VTE or PE was present in RC (VTE: OR 3.7, PE: OR  4.8; both p < 0.001) and RN (VTE: OR 5.2, PE: OR  8.3; both p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

RC, RN, and PN predisposes to a higher VTE and PE rates than RP. Moreover, among RC and RN patients with either VTE or PE, mortality is substantially higher than among their VTE or PE-free counterparts.

Venous Thromboembolism Rate in Patients With Bladder Cancer According to the Type of Treatment: A Systematic Review

Bladder cancer (BC) is classified as a high-risk tumour type for venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE presents an extra challenge in the management of patients with cancer, given the increase in morbidity and mortality on having both conditions.

To summarise the contemporary evidence on the VTE rate in patients with BC according to the stage, type of anti-cancer treatment and highlight VTE rate in the UK and other countries. A systematic review was carried out, and an electronic search for publications between January 2000 and November 2021 was done. Studies recording VTE in BC patients were included, whilst paediatric patients, case reports, studies reporting on a mix of arterial and venous thrombosis, studies reporting DVT or PE only and recorded hospitalised VTE only were excluded. The rate of VTE, country of origin, risk factors and thromboprophylaxis duration for VTE in BC patients were identified.

A total of 38 papers met the search criteria. All publications were original research papers (cohort studies). The overall VTE rate in patients with BC was estimated at 1.9% to 4.7%. For those patients undergoing cystectomy, the VTE rate ranged from 3% to 17.6%; however, the VTE rate in the metastatic stage of BC patients ranged from 3.1% to 5.1%.

The rates of VTE in BC patients are high, further increased by interventions such as surgery and chemotherapy. Thromboprophylaxis measures should be optimised. This review highlighted the fact that the VTE rate in BC varies between studies due to the heterogeneity of risk factors reported.

Sarcopenia as an independent predictor for venous thromboembolism events in bladder cancer patients undergoing radical cystectomy

BACKGROUND

Sarcopenia has been proved to be related to the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer (BC) after radical cystectomy (RC). The relationship between sarcopenia and the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after RC is unclear.

METHODS

We collected data of 252 BC patients treated with RC at our institution. Data was obtained from the electronic medical record database. Sarcopenia was defined by the third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle index (SMI) which was measured using preoperative computed tomography. The primary outcome was the incidence of VTE within 30 days after the surgery in sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups. Outcomes between the two cohorts were compared using univariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for differences between cohorts.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty-two patients were enrolled, of which 85 (33.7%) patients were in sarcopenia group, while 167 (66.3%) patients were not in sarcopenia group. The incidence of total VTE in sarcopenia group was higher than that in the extended group (10.6% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.005). Sarcopenia did not cause an increase in other postoperation 30 days complications (all p > 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed sarcopenia was independently associated with increased odds of VTE (OR = 4.18, 95% CI [1.01-17.27]; p = 0.048). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with VTE tended to be older (76.5 vs 66.0, p = 0.025) and have higher proportion of diabetes (58.3% vs 14.2%, p < 0.001) as well as lower level of serum albumin (35.0 g/L vs 40.4 g/L, p = 0.023) compared with those without VTE.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia was an independent predictor for VTE with patients undergoing RC for BC.

Incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism after percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a single-center experience

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence and risk factors of the venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 896 consecutive cases receiving PCNL between July 2018 and August 2020 in our institution. Univariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of VTE, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was further performed to determine the independent risk factors. Furthermore, the corresponding nomogram was conducted to establish a predicted model for VTE.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of VTE was 2.8%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that discontinued anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapies (OR 4.505, 95% CI 1.410-14.401), increased postoperative 12-h D-dimer (OR 11.162, 95% CI 2.370-52.574), hydronephrosis (OR 3.303, 95% CI 1.303-8.375), higher Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) score (OR 3.233, 95% CI 1.207-8.659) and postoperative sepsis or septic shock (OR 3.784, 95% CI 1.163-12.306) were independent risk factors of VTE following PCNL. Moreover, the area under the curve of postoperative 12-h D-dimer, hydronephrosis and Caprini RAM score was 0.826, 0.621 and 0.660, respectively. Based on the identified independent risk factors, the well-calibrated nomogram showed a moderate discriminative ability with concordance index 0.731.

CONCLUSIONS

2.8% of patients developed VTE following PCNL. Regarding those patients who have independent risk factors in this study, due attention should be paid to the effective thromboprophylaxis and the early detection of VTE.

Practice patterns for extended venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis among urologic oncologists after radical cystectomy

INTRODUCTION

Extended outpatient chemoprophylaxis (ECP) following radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer is proven to reduce rates of venous thromboembolism (VTE). While ECP is commonly performed with enoxaparin, its cost-effectiveness and adherence rate has been called into question. Data from orthopedic literature suggest that ECP with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may be as effective in VTE prevention as enoxaparin in patients undergoing joint surgery. Our goal is to determine how urologic oncologists employ ECP following RC.

METHODS

Members of the Society of Urologic Oncology were surveyed on practice patterns for the use of ECP after RC. Specific questions were asked regarding the use of inpatient and outpatient VTE prophylaxis, as well as perceived barriers to DOACs and enoxaparin.

RESULTS

There were 121 of 878 (13.8%) respondents and the majority were in academic practices (83%). Most respondents had at least 5 years of experience and performed greater than 10 cystectomies annually. Almost all participants utilized inpatient (97%) and extended (80%) chemoprophylaxis for VTE prevention. Of those who elected for ECP, almost all (96%) used enoxaparin. Only 3 respondents (3%) prescribed oral agents such as rivaroxaban (2) or warfarin (1). Among those using enoxaparin, financial-specific barriers to treatment such as lack of insurance coverage (38%), inability to afford the medication (51%), and need for additional insurance authorization (44%) were reported. Poor patient adherence and refusal to perform injections were reported by 20% and 18% of respondents, respectively. Among the 23 physicians who did not use ECP, cost (39%) and delivery method (26%) were cited as barriers to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of surveyed urologic oncologists are prescribing subcutaneous enoxaparin ECP following RC. Poor patient adherence due to self-injections and financial barriers were frequently reported and represent a possible opportunity for the use of oral anticoagulants in the post-operative setting. These data will be used in the development of a proposed clinical trial of a DOAC in the post-RC setting.

Trends in Adherence to Thromboprophylaxis Guideline in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy

OBJECTIVE

To examine the use of in-hospital pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis (PTP) in patients undergoing radical cystectomy between 2004 and 2014 and to assess the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) across the study period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We identified 8322 patients without contraindications to PTP undergoing radical cystectomy in the US using the Premier Healthcare Database. Nonparametric Wilcoxon type test for trend was employed to examine the trend of PTP utilization across the study period. Ensuing, we employed multivariable logistic regression and generalized linear regression models to examine the odds of receiving PTP and the risk of being diagnosed with VTE, respectively.

RESULTS

Based on VTE risk-stratification, the majority of patients (87.8%) qualified as "high-risk." Across the study period the use of PTP increased (Odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.03, P = .044), but remained underutilized as the maximum percentage of patients receiving in-hospital PTP did not exceed 58.6%. The risk of VTE did not vary across the study period (risk ratio 0.97, 95%CI 0.92-1.02, P = .178).

CONCLUSION

Utilization of PTP increased throughout the study period, while the risk of VTE did not change. Future studies are necessary to improve implementation of guideline-driven care, as PTP remained underutilized throughout the study period.

Perioperative allogenic blood transfusion increases the incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in total knee and hip arthroplasty

Background

Excessive blood loss caused by total joint arthroplasty (TJA) often increases the requirement for blood transfusion, which is associated with adverse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perioperative transfusion and postoperative DVT in TJA.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed medical records of 715 patients, who consecutively underwent primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) at our institution between September 2015 and March 2017. Demographic, clinical and surgical parameters were introduced into the univariate analysis to find risk factors for DVT within postoperative 30 days. In order to identify if allogenic blood transfusion was independently associated with DVT, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to adjust for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, and type of surgery.

Results

The incidence of perioperative allogenic blood transfusion was 12.4% (n = 89). Fifty-seven patients (8.0%) developed DVT after surgery. Univariate analysis demonstrated that there were differences between DVT group and non-DVT group in gender (P = 0.045), age (P < 0.001), BMI (P = 0.026), primary diagnosis (P = 0.001), type of surgery (P < 0.001), and transfusion rates (P = 0.040). After adjustment by using multivariate logistic regression analysis, transfusion appeared to be the independent risk factor for DVT in TJA (P = 0.001; OR = 3.9, 95%CI 1.8–8.4).

Conclusion

We found that perioperative allogenic blood transfusion was significantly associated with DVT following TJA. In order to reduce the risk of DVT and other adverse outcomes, methods to decrease transfusion rates should be used in clinical practice.