Prospective Study of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer After Surgery

Abstract

Hospitalized patients with head and neck cancer not routinely receiving anticoagulation therapy after surgery have an increased risk of VTE. Bleeding complications are elevated in patients receiving postoperative anticoagulation.

Justification of routine venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in head and neck cancer reconstructive surgery

“…The anticoagulant therapy poses the risk of hematoma‐induced airway obstruction and subsequent flap crisis. Although, another study reported a 3‐6‐fold increased risk of VTE in oncologic patients and further increased to 20‐fold if they were treated surgically . This indicates that surgical oncology inpatients are a high‐risk group for VTE development.…”

The role of postoperative hematoma on free flap compromise

“…Although retrospective studies have shown a low risk of VTE (<2.4%), in general otolaryngology patients a prospective study at our institution demonstrated a 13% overall incidence of VTE in head and neck cancer surgical patients . Furthermore, this study also demonstrated that patients receiving anticoagulation had a significantly higher rate of bleeding complications (30.1% vs. 5.6%) including hematomas compared to patients without anticoagulation therapy.…”

Venous thromboembolism in head and neck surgery: Risk, outcome, and burden at the national level

“…The reported incidence ranges between 0.035% and 2.4%, Clayburgh el al. found the risk of VTE can be as high as 8% for patient with cancer in the only available prospective observational cohort study that involved 100 patients undergoing head and neck surgeries …”