Is it safe to perform operation for colorectal malignancy in Chinese patients without DVT prophylaxis? An 8-year experience from a regional hospital in Hong Kong.
BACKGROUND
Colorectal surgery was regarded as one of the high risk surgery for post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism. This study aimed at investigating the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after colorectal surgery for malignancy.


METHODS
Data were collected from the prospective database of colorectal malignancy from 2000 to 2008. A total of 1421 colorectal (open and laparoscopic) operations were performed for the colorectal malignancy without DVT prophylaxis.


RESULTS
Only seven patients (0.5%) developed symptomatic DVT and one of them had complication of pulmonary embolism without mortality. Open operation for colorectal malignancy was identified as possible risk factor of DVT, however, risk factors like operative time, low anterior resection, sex, age etc. were not identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Risk of venous thromboembolism after colorectal operation is low in Chinese of our locality and it might be safe to perform colorectal operation for malignancy without DVT prophylaxis.
Weida
Day
D
Department of Surgery, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong, China. weidaday@gmail.com
Patrick
Lau Ying Yu
LY
Andrew
Yip Wai Chun
YW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*