Prophylaxis extension for venous thromboembolism after major abdominal and pelvic surgery for cancer (prevent): Quality improvement transitioned into a cohort study
Academic Article
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
View All
Overview
abstract
Background
Extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after abdominopelvic cancer surgery has not been widely adopted. We compared outcomes of patients pre- and postimplementation of extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin.
Methods
Prospectively collected data from a quality initiative project aimed at prescribing extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after abdominopelvic cancer surgery was compared with previously published data from a prospective cohort without extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. The primary outcome was 6-month postoperative symptomatic venous thromboembolism incidence.
Secondary outcomes
differences in 1- and 3-month venous thromboembolism incidence and factors associated with venous thromboembolism using Cox-proportional hazard models. Cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolism was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and expressed as proportions with 95% confidence interval.
Results
There were 241 patients in the venous thromboembolism-prophylaxis cohort and 284 patients in the no venous thromboembolism prophylaxis cohort. Patients in the venous thromboembolism-prophylaxis cohort were more likely to be female (69% vs 60%, P = .018), have metastatic disease (49% vs 29%, P < .001), have longer operative times (236 min vs 197 min, P < .001), and to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (27% vs 23%, P = .006). Respectively, the 1- (0.5% [95% confidence interval, 0.1-2.5] vs 0.4% [95% confidence interval, 0.1-2.5]), 3- (2.6% [95% confidence interval, 1.2-5.6] vs 2.5% [95% confidence interval, 1.2-5.2]), and 6-month (7.5% [95% confidence interval, 4.8-11.5] vs 7.2% [95% confidence interval, 4.7-11.0]) venous thromboembolism incidence were similar. By multivariable analysis, history of venous thromboembolism (hazard ratio 3.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-12.05; P = .045) and longer duration of hospital stay (hazard ratio 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.12; P = .016) demonstrated increased risk of venous thromboembolism.
Conclusion
This study failed to demonstrate a decreased 1-, 3-, and 6-month postoperative venous thromboembolism incidence after the implementation of extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.