[Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after hip or knee prosthesis. Evaluation of practices for prevention and prevalence of DVT on doppler ultrasonography].
OBJECTIVE
Duplex ultrasound scanning was performed to detect deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after hip or knee arthroplasty and evaluate application of the postoperative thromboprophylaxis consensus.


METHODS
A prospective multicenter study was conducted between April 1995 and April 1996 in 16 centers. Thirty angiologists included 505 patients (370 in private clinics and 135 in university hospitals). Mean patient age was 71 years. There were 288 women. Hip arthroplasty was performed in 396 patients (78%) and knee arthroplasty in 109 (22%), under general anesthesia in 323. The postoperative thromboprophylaxis consensus was recalled prior to study onset and DVT was detected 8 and 10 days after surgery by duplex ultrasonography.


RESULTS
Thromboprophylaxis was prescribed by the anesthesiologist (57%), the surgeon (23%) or an angiologist (20%). Anticoagulation dosage was lower than the recommended dosage in 181 patients (36%). The prevalence of detected deep venous thrombosis was 14% (range 11-17%), including 21 cases of proximal DVT (4.2%), 33 of distal DVT (6.5%) and 17 of distal muscular DVT (3.4%). The risk of having a DVT was 1.6-fold higher in patients over 70 years of age (p = 0.04), 2.2-fold higher in case of general anesthesia (p = 0.03) and 2.1-fold higher in case of reduced mobility (p = 0.01). When heparin dosage was lower than the recommended consensus dosage, prevalence of DVT was 19% compared with 11% for patients who received the right dosage (RR = 1.7, p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Much progress is needed in the application of the postoperative consensus on thromboprophylaxis. The high prevalence of DVT despite preventive treatment indicates that systematic detection of DVT is useful, particularly in high-risk patients or when the recommended thromboprophylaxis cannot be applied.
Villemur
B
B
Association de Formation continue en Angiologie Rhône-Alpes, Grenoble.
Bosson
J L
JL
Diamand
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
Thromboses veineuses profondes (TVP) après prothèse de hanche ou de genou. Evaluation des pratiques de prévention et de la prévalence des TVP en écho-Doppler.