title: Efficacy and safety of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in highest risk plastic surgery patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to stratify plastic surgery patients into venous thromboembolism risk categories; identify patients at highest risk for venous thromboembolism; and quantify rates of postoperative all-cause mortality, venous thromboembolism, and hematoma/bleeding on different forms of thromboprophylaxis. Furthermore, this study aimed to determine the compliance and average duration of outpatient chemoprophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was carried out on a single plastic surgeon's experience. Venous thromboembolism risk stratification identified patients at highest risk. Records were reviewed for regimen of thromboprophylaxis and for occurrences of all-cause mortality, venous thromboembolism, and hematoma/bleeding. Outpatient compliance and duration of low-molecular-weight heparin chemoprophylaxis was also documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study time period, 173 operations involved 120 patients at highest risk for venous thromboembolism. Among highest risk patients, one (0.8 percent) suffered a pulmonary embolism, eight (6.7 percent) experienced a deep vein thrombosis, and 15 (12.5 percent) endured a hematoma/bleed. Thirteen of 14 outpatients (92.9 percent) were compliant with low-molecular-weight heparin and remained on chemoprophylaxis for an average of 7.4 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mechanical prophylaxis plus subcutaneous heparin (unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin) conferred a statistically significant reduction in the rate of venous thromboembolism without a significant increase in bleeding versus mechanical prophylaxis alone. Subgroup analysis of patients placed on mechanical prophylaxis plus low-molecular-weight heparin revealed similar statistically significant findings. Outpatients placed on low-molecular-weight heparin chemoprophylaxis demonstrated excellent compliance and comfort with self-administration. Therefore, the use of mechanical prophylaxis supplemented with low-molecular-weight heparin is strongly recommended as the first-line regimen for thromboprophylaxis in plastic surgery patients at highest risk for venous thromboembolism.
authors.affiliation: Washington, D.C. From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital.
authors.forename: Mitchel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seruya
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Davison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight