Background: Acute postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) is a dreaded complication with severe mortality rates. Brain tumor patients are at the highest risk for postoperative PE. The juxtaposition of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) in the treatment of postoperative PE in meningioma patients is largely unexplored.
Patients/methods: This is a single center observational analysis of meningioma patients who underwent neurosurgical resection with a thoracic CT scan confirmation of postoperative PE. The treatment modality, clinical course and outcome were investigated.
Results: Of 538 meningioma patients operated, 30 (6%) developed acute postoperative PE. After diagnosis, these patients received different long-term anticoagulation regimes. No significant difference in postoperative hemorrhage (p < 0.56), re-operation rate (p < 0.70) or Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) at 3 (p < 0.34) and 12 months (p = 1) were identified, when compared according to the different anticoagulation regimes.
Conclusion: DOACs were not associated with elevated risk for hemorrhage, recurrent thrombosis or poor outcome when compared with traditional anticoagulation regimes. Prospective randomized trials are necessary to verify the non-inferiority of DOACs for long-term anticoagulation in postoperative pulmonary embolism after meningioma resection.
Keywords: Antithrombotic agents; Direct oral anticoagulation; Low-molecular-weight heparin; Pulmonary embolism.
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