Background: Venous thromboembolism is the most common postoperative medical complication after bariatric surgery. Mortality associated with thromboembolic processes can reach up to 50%-75%. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and portal-splenic-mesenteric vein thrombosis (PSMVT) in our population undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as the bariatric technique, with an anti-thromboembolic dosage scheme of 0.5 mg/kg/day 12 hours preoperatively and maintained during 30 days postoperatively.
Patients and methods: A prospective observational study was performed, including 100 consecutive patients undergoing LSG between October 2007 and September 2013. To determine the incidence of DVT and PSMVT, all patients undergo contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) and Doppler ultrasonography (US) of both lower limbs on the third postoperative month, whether they were asymptomatic or symptomatic.
Results: Contrast-enhanced CT showed 1 case of PSMVT (1%). Two patients presented DVT in the right leg (2%). All the cases were asymptomatic.
Conclusions: The incidence of PSMVT and DVT after LSG with a prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day and maintained during 30 days postoperatively is 1% and 2%, respectively. According to these results, a postoperative screening with Doppler US and/or contrast-enhanced CT seems to be unnecessary.