Post Discharge Clinically Overt Venous Thromboembolism in Orthopaedic Surgery Patients with Negative Venography -an Overview Analysis

Abstract

SummaryA high incidence of post-discharge venous thromboembolism in orthopaedic surgery patients has been recently reported drawing further attention to the unresolved issue of the optimal duration of the pharmacological prophylaxis. We performed an overview analysis in order to evaluate the incidence of late occurring clinically overt venous thromboembolism in major orthopaedic surgery patients discharged from the hospital with a negative venography and without further pharmacological prophylaxis. We selected the studies published from January 1974 to December 1995 on the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism after major orthopaedic surgery fulfilling the following criteria: 1) adoption of pharmacological prophylaxis, 2) performing of a bilateral venography before discharge, 3) interruption of pharmacological prophylaxis at discharge in patients with negative venography, and 4) post-discharge follow-up of the patients for at least four weeks. Out of 31 identified studies, 13 fulfilled the overview criteria. The total number of evaluated patients was 4120. An adequate venography was obtained in 3469 patients (84.1%). In the 2361 patients with negative venography (68.1%), 30 episodes of symptomatic venous thromboembolism after hospital discharge were reported with a resulting cumulative incidence of 1.27% (95% C.I. 0.82-1.72) and a weighted mean incidence of 1.52% (95% C.I. 1.05-1.95). Six cases of pulmonary embolism were reported. Our overview showed a low incidence of clinically overt venous thromboembolism at follow-up in major orthopaedic surgery patients discharged with negative venography. Extending pharmacological prophylaxis in these patients does not appear to be justified. Venous thrombi leading to hospital re-admission are likely to be present but asymptomatic at the time of discharge. Future research should be directed toward improving the accuracy of non invasive diagnostic methods in order to replace venography in the screening of asymptomatic post-operative deep vein thrombosis.

Enoxaparin plus Compression Stockings Compared with Compression Stockings Alone in the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism after Elective Neurosurgery

“…This result confirms similar findings in high-risk orthopedic surgery 21,22 and suggests that most late-presenting deep-vein thrombi probably develop in the hospital and become symptomatic after discharge. These data have implications for the optimal duration of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy for venous thromboembolism.…”

Is there adequate provision of venous thrombo-embolism prophylaxis following hip arthroplasty? An audit and international survey

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Antithrombotic Strategy After Total Hip Replacement

“…In conclusion, our findings suggest that after hip re¬ placement, prophylactic oral anticoagulation started after the initial perioperative period (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) days) and adminis¬ tered for 6 weeks is more effective and less costly in preventing recurrent DVT and PE than stopping antithrom¬ botic therapy beyond hospitalization, unless the bleeding risk is extremely high. Moreover, the tendency toward shorter in-hospital stay after total hip replacement strength¬ ens the case for outpatient anticoagulation.…”