title: Incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: a prospective study in Chinese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in Chinese patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) for prostate cancer and the need for prophylactic anticoagulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From August 2007 to September 2010, patients with prostate cancer undergoing RALP in our center were prospectively recruited for the study. Perioperative parameters, including patients' age, disease stage and pathology, and intraoperative findings were collected. All patients underwent Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of their bilateral lower limbs on postoperation day 3 for any evidence of DVT. The incidence of and possible predisposing factors for DVT were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and nine consecutive patients were recruited during the study period. The incidence rate of post-RALP DVT was 16.9 % (18 cases), with only one patient (1 %) developing above-knee DVT. No patient developed DVT-associated complications during follow-up. Patients with DVT were older (69.2 ± 4.4 vs. 65 ± 5.8 years old; p = 0.05), had greater intraoperative blood loss (775 vs. 264.7 ml; p = 0.001) and required lengthier hospitalization (8.1 vs. 6.0 days; p = 0.013). However, no difference in smoking history, body mass index, history of diabetes, lymph node dissection or disease stage was observed between patients with and without DVT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The post-RALP incidence of DVT in Chinese populations is not low. However, the majority of DVT cases are below the knee level and asymptomatic.
authors.affiliation: The SH Ho Urology Centre, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: S Y S
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: V F Y
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: E S Y
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: S S M
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012371:Robotics; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology