The Sunnybrook experience: review of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in otolaryngology.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism in otolaryngology patients at a Canadian tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
This was a retrospective review of all otolaryngology operations at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 2004. All patients who developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a pulmonary embolism (PE), or both as in-patient postoperative complications were identified.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients were identified in our study. Ten patients (71.4%) developed a DVT, five patients developed a PE (35.7%), and one patient (7.1%) developed both. The overall incidence of DVT and PE was 0.1% and 0.05%, respectively. The highest incidence occurred in patients undergoing major head and neck surgery. Patients who developed a PE had a statistically significantly longer hospital stay than patients who developed a DVT (p < .05). There were two deaths in the five patients who developed a PE.


CONCLUSIONS
Venous thromboembolism is an infrequent but potentially devastating cause of morbidity and mortality in the otolaryngology patient population.
Lee
John
J
Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario. johnm.lee@utoronto.ca
Alexander
Ashlin
A
Higgins
Kevin
K
Geerts
William
W
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology