title: Kinetics of D-dimer after general surgery.
abstract: D-dimers may be elevated after surgery. However, the kinetics of postoperative D-dimers remains unknown hampering the use of D-dimer testing in surgical patients with suspected venous thromboembolism. D-dimer levels were prospectively measured in 154 patients after general surgery at predefined time points (kinetics were determined in an initial cohort of 108 patients; for validation, these findings were applied to a second cohort of 46 patients). Clinical factors influencing the peak of D-dimers were analyzed using multivariate regression. Surgical operations were stratified based on severity (type I: not entering abdominal cavity; type II: intraabdominal; type III: retroperitoneal/liver surgery). D-dimer levels increased postoperatively reaching a peak on day 7. After type I surgery, peak D-dimer levels did not exceed normal range (300 ng/ml, 100-500). After type II procedures, peak D-dimer level was 1500 ng/ml (200-7800) and returned to normal values after 25 days (+/-14). Peak level was 4000 ng/ml (500-14 400) after type III surgery normalizing within 38 days (+/-11). Clearance of D-dimer was exponential after having reached the peak with 6.0% per day (95% confidence interval 4.8-7.1%). By this clearance, D-dimer values could be adequately predicted in the validation cohort after day 7 (r2 = 0.63). Peak D-dimer levels were independently influenced by the type of surgery (P < 0.001), the operation time (P < 0.001) and by preoperatively elevated D-dimer levels (P < 0.001). Based on this data, duration of postoperative D-dimer elevation after abdominal surgery is predictable. This study indicates for the first time when D-dimers may be used again in the diagnostic algorithm for venous thromboembolism exclusion after surgery in patients with low or moderate clinical probability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dindo
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breitenstein
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hahnloser
authors.forename: Burkhardt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Sidika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yakarisik
authors.forename: Lars M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Asmis
authors.forename: Markus K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017985:Dalteparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D017985:Dalteparin