Objective: To review the incidence and outcome of clinically significant venous thromboembolism (VTE) following gynecologic surgery in a population receiving provider-specified prophylaxis.
Study design: A computerized patient database was used to identify all patients diagnosed with VTE following gynecologic surgery from 1992 to 1997. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Clinically significant postoperative VTE was defined as pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis, suggested by symptoms and physical findings, with subsequent confirmation by appropriate imaging study. Patients having VTE at the time of preoperative hospital admission and patients diagnosed with VTE after postoperative day 30 were excluded.
Results: Fifty-three patients developed postoperative VTE after > 30,000 gynecologic surgical procedures (incidence, < 1 event per 500 procedures). Forty-eight (91%) patients received some form of prophylaxis. Patients with benign disease, surgical anesthesia less than three hours and no history of prior VTE or factor V Leiden deficiency rarely developed postoperative VTE (incidence, < 1 event in 4,000 procedures). Thirteen (25%) patients had complications from anticoagulation therapy requiring prolonged hospital stay or readmission.
Conclusion: Clinically significant VTE following gynecologic surgery is rare in the absence of malignancy, prolonged surgical anesthesia or hypercoagulation factors. Complications from anticoagulation therapy are common among gynecologic patients undergoing treatment for VTE.