Risk factors for venous thromboembolism after lung transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) following lung transplantation are not well established. We aimed to estimate the incidence of VTE and to identify the risk factors for VTE after lung transplantation.


METHODS
We performed a nested case-control study within the cohort of 121 patients who underwent lung transplantation at our center between August 2001 and July 2005. Control subjects were matched to case patients on the number of days from the time of transplant. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify risk factors for VTE.


RESULTS
Twenty-four patients had deep vein thromboses, and 6 patients had pulmonary emboli (3 patients had both) [22% of the cohort]. In multivariate models, older age (p < 0.05), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.03), and pneumonia (p = 0.02) were associated with a higher rate of VTE.


CONCLUSIONS
VTE is a frequent complication of lung transplantation. Older age, diabetes, and pneumonia increase the rate of VTE. Future studies of intensive VTE prophylaxis may be warranted.
Yegen
Hilary A
HA
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Lederer
David J
DJ
Barr
R Graham
RG
Wilt
Jessie S
JS
Fang
Yixin
Y
Bagiella
Emilia
E
D'Ovidio
Frank
F
Okun
Jeffrey M
JM
Sonett
Joshua R
JR
Arcasoy
Selim M
SM
Kawut
Steven M
SM
D000367:Age Factors; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010690:Phlebography; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*