Venous thromboembolism in patients with head and neck cancer after surgery.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to report the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with head and neck cancer after surgery.


METHODS
This was a single-institution, retrospective cohort: 134 patients underwent resection and simultaneous microvascular reconstruction. The primary endpoint was identification of confirmed or suspicious VTE within 30 days of surgery.


RESULTS
Two subjects (1.4%) with confirmed VTE (1 pulmonary embolism, 1 deep venous thrombosis) and 6 subjects (4.4%) with suspicious VTE (1 acute respiratory failure, 1 sudden cardiac arrest, and 4 cases of leg edema without imaging) were identified. The strongest predictors of possible VTE were prior VTE (p = .004; odds ratio [OR], 25.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-556.40), red cell transfusion (p = .009; OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.16-2.80), high body mass index (p = .015, OR, 1.29, 95% CI, 1.05-1.58), and older age (p = .046; OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00-1.19).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of VTE in patients with head and neck cancer after resection and microvascular reconstruction ranged from 1.4% to 5.8%.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Leo
L
Thai
Kate
K
McCarn
William
W
Stott
Tammara
T
Watts
Mark K
MK
Wax
Peter E
PE
Andersen
Neil D
ND
Gross
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology