title: Incidence of deep vein thrombosis after major spine surgeries with no mechanical or chemical prophylaxis.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  What is the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after major spine surgery when no prophylactic measures were used?
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective evaluation of 121 patients who underwent 128 major spine surgeries was conducted to determine the incidence of clinically identifiable DVT. As a matter of practice, no patient was given thromboprophylaxis, either mechanical or chemical.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only one patient developed the signs and symptoms of DVT, which was further confirmed by a Doppler study. The overall incidence of DVT was 0.78%. There was no clinically evident case of PE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the low rate of incidence of DVT and PE, routine screening and prophylaxis for DVT appears unwarranted in major spine surgery. [Table: see text].
authors.affiliation: Kovai Medical Center and Hospitals, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Sreedharan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namboothiri