Deep vein thrombosis and serum D-dimer after pelvic lymphadenectomy in gynecological cancer

INTRODUCTION

Venous thromboembolism prevention during the perioperative period requires comprehensive risk-level assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and to assess the cut-off levels of serum D-dimer as a screening strategy for deep vein thrombosis during the perioperative period.

METHODS

A total of 205 patients (ovarian cancer: 68, endometrial cancer: 76, cervical cancer: 61) who underwent gynecological surgery, including retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, were enrolled. We retrospectively analyzed the data on the cut-off value of D-dimer assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve preoperatively, and 2 or 3 months, postoperatively. All patients underwent leg vein ultrasonography regardless of the serum D-dimer level. Furthermore, CT scans were performed to evaluate both disease status and venous thromboembolism, including pulmonary thromboembolism. Statistical analyzes were performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test (D-dimer values of each cancer), Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test (incidence of deep vein thrombosis), and one-way analysis of variance (patient characteristics).

RESULTS

A total of 205 patients (ovarian cancer: 68, endometrial cancer: 76, cervical cancer: 61) who underwent gynecological surgery, including retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, were included in the analysis. Deep vein thrombosis rates were significantly higher in patients with ovarian cancer (P<0.001). The postoperative D-dimer value was significantly higher than the preoperative value. Postoperative D-dimer values were also significantly higher in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.001). The cut-off value of D-dimer was 1.55 µg/mL preoperatively (sensitivity, 48.0%; specificity, 94.1%), and this value was higher postoperatively, at 1.95 µg/mL (sensitivity, 37.0%; specificity, 90.9%).

CONCLUSION

Postoperative D-dimer values are higher not only after surgery but also in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy. The cut-off value of D-dimer at 2 or 3 months postoperatively was higher than preoperative value.

Prevalence of venous thromboembolism at pretreatment screening and associated risk factors in 2086 patients with gynecological cancer

AIM

Postoperative pulmonary embolism can be a fatal surgical complication and is thought to occur secondary to asymptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) that exists preoperatively in some patients. The purpose of this study was to clarify the frequency and risk factors of pretreatment VTE in gynecological cancer patients.

METHODS

This study investigated 2086 patients with gynecological cancer (cervix, n = 754; endometrium, n = 862; ovary, n = 470) who underwent initial treatment between 2004 and 2017. Pretreatment VTE screening was performed with D-dimer (DD) levels in these patients. Based on this, the associated risk factors were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Pretreatment VTE was discovered in 7.3% of patients with cervical cancer, 11.5% of those with endometrial cancer and 27.0% of those with ovarian cancer. Significant independent risk factors were: age greater than or equal to 60 years and tumor long diameter greater than or equal to 40 mm for cervical cancer; age greater than or equal to 60 years, stage III/IV advanced disease, clear cell carcinoma and tumor long diameter greater than or equal to 60 mm for endometrial cancer; and age greater than or equal to 60 years, clear cell carcinoma and massive ascites for ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSION

Pretreatment asymptomatic VTE is very frequent in gynecological cancer patients. It may be beneficial to consider measuring DD or performing venous ultrasonography in patients with the above risk factors.

Changes in serum D-dimer level and effect of enoxaparin sodium after a cesarean section: a retrospective study

Background: Pregnancy increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). During pregnancy and a post-cesarean section, an increase in D-dimer levels can be observed. However, to date, the usefulness of the D-dimer level measurement for thrombosis in pregnant women has not been determined.Objects: We aimed to evaluate the changes in D-dimer levels after a cesarean section, the risk factors of high D-dimer levels, and enoxaparin sodium's preventive effects on VTE.Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 160 pregnant women who underwent a cesarean section. D-dimer levels were measured on postoperative day (POD)1 and POD6. If on POD1, the D-dimer levels were ≥10 µg/mL, enoxaparin sodium was administered until POD7. Regardless of enoxaparin administration, when the D-dimer levels on POD6 were ≥10 µg/mL, lower-limb venous ultrasonography was performed. After a cesarean section, patients were screened for the following: factors causing high D-dimer levels, incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and need for enoxaparin.Results: The median D-dimer levels on POD1 and POD6 were 7.5 µg/mL (1.1-34.1) and 4.2 µg/mL (0.02-31.4), respectively. Enoxaparin sodium was administered to 56 patients (35%). The D-dimer levels on POD6 decreased more significantly than on POD1. The median D-dimer levels in the enoxaparin administration group significantly dropped from 14.3 (POD1) to 3.9 (POD6) (p<.001). The D-dimer levels on POD1 were higher in patients aged ≥35 years and with a hospitalization history of threatened preterm labor. In addition, on POD6, patients aged ≥35 years and with a high body mass index had high D-levels. Following a multivariate analysis, the elderly represent an independent factor for high D-levels. DVT was not observed.Conclusion: When the D-dimer levels on POD1 after a cesarean section are ≥10 µg/mL, enoxaparin reduces D-dimer levels six days after cesarean section. Moreover, patients aged ≥35 years represent an independent factor for high D-levels. These findings should be validated by further studies.

Analysis of risk factors for deep venous thrombosis in patients with gynecological malignant tumor: A clinical study

Objectives:

To determine the clinical characteristics and risk factors of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) in patients with gynecological malignant tumor, facilitating gynecologists better prevent the fatal complication.

Methods:

The patients with gynecological malignant tumor treated in department of gynecology of our hospital between May 2013 and May 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical data of patients including gender, age, tumor staging, adenocarcinoma, surgery, operation time, hypertension, hyperlipemia, diabetes, coronary heart disease, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hospital stay, and postoperative rehabilitation exercise were collected to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients and determine the risk factors of DVT.

Results:

In the current study, 67 patients were included in DVT group, and 554 patients were included in Non-DVT group. There were significant differences in age, hypertension, hyperlipemia, operation time, adenocarcinoma, tumor staging, radiotherapy and postoperative rehabilitation exercises between DVT and non-DVT groups (p<0.05). However, there was no significant differences in gender, coronary heart disease, diabetes, surgical treatment and hospital stay (p>0.05). In multivariate analysis, the factors including age, hypertension, adenocarcinoma, radiotherapy, and hyperlipemia were independent risk factors, while rehabilitation exercise was protective factor for DVT.

Conclusion:

In cases of gynecological malignant tumor, DVT screening should be given due importance, especially for those patients with old age, hypertension, hyperlipemia, adenocarcinoma, or history of radiotherapy. Rehabilitation exercise should be encouraged in these patients.

Risk factors and treatment of venous thromboembolism in perioperative patients with ovarian cancer in China

The aim of this study was to assess the major risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Chinese patients with ovarian cancer and to explore optimal methods of prophylaxis and treatment.A retrospective analysis of patients from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University was conducted from January 1, 2014, to January 1, 2017. We analyzed 388 patients who underwent surgery with a final diagnosis of ovarian cancer, of whom 35 developed VTE. Risk factors for preoperative and postoperative VTE were investigated. Preoperative patients with VTE were treated with anticoagulant therapy; chemotherapy with carboplatin paclitaxel was administered for 2 or 3 courses before cytoreductive surgery.Fifteen patients were diagnosed with preoperative VTE and 20 with postoperative VTE. Eight of these 35 patients were also diagnosed with pulmonary embolism (PE), and 1 patient died. Univariate analysis showed differences in age, preoperative D-dimer value, platelet count, preoperative chemotherapy, operative time, and cardiovascular disease according to the presence or absence of VTE. In multivariate analysis, age 55 years and older, tumor diameter greater than 10 cm, preoperative platelet count greater than 300  × 10/L, and a D-dimer value greater than 0.5 μg/mL were independent risk factors for preoperative VTE, whereas a D-dimer value greater than 0.5 μg/mL and surgery time greater than 150 minutes were independent risk factors for postoperative VTE. Four preoperative patients with PE who underwent treatment with anticoagulant therapy and chemotherapy with carboplatin paclitaxel had disappearance of signs of PE and their ascites and mass sizes decreased substantially, leading to subsequent optimal cytoreduction.Preoperative screening and perioperative preventive measures should be taken in gynecological oncology surgery, especially when patients have risk factors identified in this study. For patients with ovarian cancer who have been diagnosed with thrombosis before surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and anticoagulant drugs can be used to control the progression of thrombosis and cancer.