Prevalence and Predictors of Preoperative Venous Thromboembolism in Asymptomatic Patients Undergoing Major Oncologic Surgery

Abstract

Background

Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of in-hospital mortality for cancer patients; however, the prevalence of preoperative VTE remains unclear.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with preoperative VTE in asymptomatic patients undergoing major oncologic surgery.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 346 patients identified from our prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing abdominopelvic oncologic surgery from 2009 to 2016.

Results

The prevalence of preoperative VTE found on screening venous duplex scan was 10.1%. Patients with a history of prior VTE were more likely to have a preoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) versus those with no prior VTE (42.9% vs. 4.5%, p < 0.01). Relative risk for prior VTE was 8.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.7–14.3]. Older age was also associated with preoperative VTE. Regression modeling determined that patients were 1.24-fold as likely to have a preoperative DVT for every 5-year increase in age (relative risk 1.24, 95% CI 1.09–1.42). Patients with preoperative DVT were more likely to have been diagnosed with sepsis 1 month prior to surgery (8.6% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.04). There were no postoperative pulmonary emboli. The overall postoperative complication rate was higher in those with a preoperative DVT (25.7% vs. 13.2%, p = 0.071).

Conclusion

Asymptomatic patients undergoing major oncologic surgery have a 10.1% prevalence of preoperative DVT. Increasing age, recent diagnosis of sepsis, and a history of prior VTE are significantly associated with preoperative DVTs. This suggests high-risk oncologic patients may benefit from screening lower extremity venous duplex ultrasound prior to Surgery.

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