title: Prevalence of venous thromboembolism in neurosurgical patients.
abstract: This study was conducted to clarify the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in neurosurgical patients. Prospective study for venous thromboembolism screening after neurosurgery was conducted. Thirty-seven patients were screened by ultrasonography for deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremities at an average of 12 days postoperatively. All patients received standard thromboprophylaxis using graded compression stocking with/without intermittent pneumatic compression following the VTE prevention guidelines. Definitive diagnosis of venous thromboembolism was made by contrast-enhanced whole-body computed tomography. Prevalence of deep vein thrombosis of the lower legs was 13.5% (5/37). Incidence of pulmonary embolism was 60% (3/5) in patients having deep vein thrombosis. All patients having venous thromboembolism were asymptomatic. In high-risk patients, VTE prevalence after neurosurgery was high even under mechanical prophylaxis. Additional pharmacological prophylaxis should be considered for patients with high risk of VTE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daitoku
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minakawa
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odagiri
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohkuma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018570:Risk Assessment; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents