Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in lung cancer patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy. Methods: This study included 495 lung cancer patients undergoing VATS from March 2018 to November 2018. Patients were randomly assigned to an IPC group or a control group using sealed envelopes containing a slip indicating the allocation. IPC calf sleeves were applied to both legs during the surgery. All patients were subjected to D-dimer and echo color-Doppler detection pre-and postoperatively. The incidences of DVT were compared between the two groups. Results: While D-dimer levels failed to show any significant difference between the two groups, the incidence of DVT showed significant difference with respect to the ultrasonographic features of the thrombi. Intraoperative administration of IPC significantly reduced the risk of DVT compared with no mechanical prophylaxis (P<0.0001). No complications related to IPC occurred. Conclusions: Intraoperative administration of IPC was effective in preventing postoperative DVT in lung cancer patients undergoing VATS.

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) poses a considerable perioperative risk in patients who undergo surgical procedures. This study set out to determine the efficacy of self-heating calf sleeves (SHCSs) in preventing postoperative DVT in lung cancer patients undergoing VATS lobectomy. Methods: This study included 557 participants who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy between June, 2018 and June, 2019. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: the SHCS group and the control group. SHCS was applied to the patients intraoperatively. Each patient was subjected to Doppler ultrasound and D-dimer examination preoperatively and postoperatively. Signs and symptoms of DVT were monitored daily. Incidences of DVT were compared between the two groups. Results: Based on Color Doppler ultrasonography performed on day 2 after surgery, 42 of the 276 patients (15.20%) in the control group developed DVT, compared to 12 out of 281 patients (4.27%) in the SHCS group. There was significant difference in the incidence of DVT between the two groups (P<0.0001). The use of SHCSs significantly enhanced venous blood flow compared to when no mechanical prophylaxis was used (P<0.001). No significant difference in plasma D-dimer level was observed between the two groups. No SHCS-related complications occurred in the study.Conclusions: This study demonstrate that SHCSs are a satisfactory form of DVT prophylaxis method that can improve venous blood flow and thus alleviate venous stasis in the lower extremities. SHCSs offer a simple, inexpensive, and generally complication-free prophylactic method for lung cancer patients undergoing VATS lobectomy.Trial registration: ChiCTR1900022043.