The incidence of deep vein thrombosis in women undergoing cesarean delivery.
BACKGROUND
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the United States. Cesarean delivery is a known risk factor. This study was to determine the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) post cesarean delivery.


METHODS
This was a prospective cohort study where two patients having undergone cesarean delivery each day were randomly selected. A lower extremity compression ultrasound was performed prior to hospital discharge. If no DVT was detected, participants were asked to return for a second ultrasound two weeks postpartum. Participants were also telephone-interviewed at three months for reported VTE.


RESULTS
Of the 194 patients who consented to study participation, only one participant developed DVT after cesarean delivery, giving an overall incidence of 0.5% (95% CI, 0.1 to 2.8%). There were no DVT identified on the second ultrasound nor VTE reported 3 months postpartum.


CONCLUSIONS
We found the DVT rate after cesarean delivery to be 0.5%.
Sia
Winnie W
WW
University of Alberta, Departments of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canada. winnie.sia@capitalhealth.ca
Powrie
Raymond O
RO
Cooper
Ann B
AB
Larson
Lucia
L
Phipps
Maureen
M
Spencer
Patricia
P
Sauve
Nadine
N
Rosene-Montella
Karen
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult