title: Risk-group targeted inferior vena cava filter placement in gastric bypass patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite a growing body of evidence guiding appropriate perioperative thromboprophylaxis in the general population, few data direct strategies to reduce deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in the morbidly obese. We have implemented a novel protocol for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk stratification in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) candidates at our institution, which augments clinical assessment with screening for thrombophilias, to guide retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filter utilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent primary RYGB between 2001 and 2008 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was completed. During that time, clinical assessment of VTE risk was amplified by focused plasma screening for common thrombophilias (factors VIII, IX, and XI, d-dimer, fibrinogen). Preoperative prophylactic IVC filters were offered to high-risk patients. The database was reviewed for perioperative DVTs, PEs, and filter-related complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 330 patients, in 162 attempts, 160 had prophylactic IVC filters placed with four complications overall (2.47%). No patient had symptoms of PE during the planned 6-week filter period, though one had a PE occur immediately after filter removal (0.63%); in contrast, five of 170 patients (2.94%) without prophylactic IVC filters presented with symptomatic PE (p = 0.216). In total, 147 (91.88%) prophylactic filters were removed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk-group targeted prophylactic inferior vena cava filter placement prior to RYGB is safe with a trend towards reduced occurrence of PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7081, USA. dwoverby@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: D Wayne
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Overby
authors.forename: Geoffrey P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Mitchell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cahan
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stavas
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: Charles T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Colton
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Farrell
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016306:Vena Cava Filters; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*