title: Asymptomatic postoperative deep vein thrombosis and the development of postthrombotic syndrome. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Perioperative antithrombotic clinical regimens have reduced the incidence of postoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Long-term effects of asymptomatic postoperative DVT have been studied in a number of clinical trials and the present review describes the clinical significance of asymptomatic postoperative DVT regarding the possible development of postthrombotic syndrome (PTS). We performed a systematic review of reference databases focusing upon studies including patients suspected of having postoperative DVT and reporting subsequent cases of PTS at the end of a well-defined follow-up period. The included studies were stratified according to type of screening method and applied statistics. Over-all evaluation included meta-analyses based upon the Cochrane software package. The overall relative risk of developing PTS was 1.58 (95% confidence intervals: 1.24-2.02) in patients suffering from asymptomatic DVT as compared to patients without DVT (p<0.0005). In conclusion, asymptomatic postoperative DVT is associated with an increased risk of late development of PTS. The finding emphasizes that postoperative DVT, diagnosed by means of well-defined objective measures, remains the correct scientific endpoint in trials evaluating the efficacy of preoperative antithrombotic treatment regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. pwj01@bbh.hosp.dk
authors.forename: Peer
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wille-Jørgensen
authors.forename: Lars N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011186:Postphlebitic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology