Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism after oncologic surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Association of pathologic factors with postoperative venous thromboembolism after gastrointestinal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis is the standard of care after gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery; however, variation in risk based on pathologic factors (eg, stage and histology) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association of pathologic factors with VTE after GI cancer surgery.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program procedure targeted datasets were queried for patients who underwent colorectal, pancreatic, primary hepatic, and esophageal cancer surgery between 2017 and 2020. Disease-specific and pathologic factors associated with postoperative VTE were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 70,934 patients who underwent GI cancer surgery, the incidence rates of 30-day postoperative VTE were 3.3% for pancreatic cancer, 3.2% for esophageal cancer, 2.7% for primary hepatic, and 1.3% for colorectal cancer. T stage was associated with VTE for colorectal cancer (T4 vs T1; odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.24-2.60), pancreatic cancer (all T stages vs T1; P < .05), and primary hepatic cancer (T4 vs T1; OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.55-5.08). N stage was associated with VTE for colorectal cancer (N2 vs N0; OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.04-1.68) and pancreatic cancer (N2 vs N0; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.03-1.81). M stage was associated with VTE for colorectal cancer (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.17-1.85) and esophageal cancer (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.24-5.19). Histologic subtype was not associated with VTE, except for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors vs adenocarcinoma (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03-1.74).

CONCLUSION

Pathologic factors were associated with higher 30-day VTE risk after GI cancer surgery. Acknowledging the association of pathologic factors on VTE is an important first step to considering a more tailored approach to chemoprophylaxis.

Venous thromboembolism in Black COVID-19 patients in a minority context compared to White, Asian and other racialized patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected racialized populations, with particular impact among individuals of Black individuals. However, it is unclear whether disparities in venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications exist between Black individuals and those belonging to other racial groups with confirmed SARS-CoV2 infections.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the prevalence and moderators associated with VTE among Black COVID-19 patients in minoritized settings, and to compare this to White and Asian COVID-19 patients according to sex, age, and comorbid health conditions (heart failure, cancer, obesity, hypertension).

DESIGN SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and CENTRAL for articles or reports published from inception to February 15, 2023.

STUDY SELECTION

Reports on VTE among Black individuals infected with SARS-CoV2, in countries where Black people are considered a minority population group.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Study characteristics and results of eligible studies were independently extracted by 2 pairs of reviewers. VTE prevalence was extracted, and risk of bias was assessed. Prevalence estimates of VTE prevalence among Black individuals with COVID19 in each study were pooled. Where studies provided race-stratified VTE prevalence among COVID19 patients, odds ratios were generated using a random-effects model.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Prevalence of VTE, comprising of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

RESULTS

Ten studies with 66,185 Black individuals reporting the prevalence of COVID-19 associated VTE were included. Weighted median age of included studies was 47.60. Pooled prevalence of COVID-19 associated VTE was 7.2 % (95 % CI, 3.8 % - 11.5 %) among Black individuals. Among individuals with SARS-CoV2 infections, Black population had higher risks of VTE compared to their White (OR = 1.79, [95 % CI 1.28-2.53], p < .001) or Asian (OR = 2.01, [95 % CI, 1.14-3.60], p = .017) counterparts, or patients with other racial identities (OR = 2.01, [95 % CI, 1.39, 2.92]; p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Black individuals with COVID-19 had substantially higher risk of VTE compared to White or Asian individuals. Given racial disparities in thrombotic disease burden related to COVID-19, medical education, research, and health policy interventions are direly needed to ensure adequate disease awareness among Black individuals, to facilitate appropriate diagnosis and treatment among Black patients with suspected and confirmed VTE, and to advocate for culturally safe VTE prevention strategies, including pre-existing inequalities to the COVID-19 pandemic that persist after the crisis.

From early risk to 1-year mortality: a comprehensive assessment of postoperative venous thromboembolism in upper gastrointestinal cancer patients - a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-recognized complication following gastrointestinal cancer surgery, particularly early postoperatively. The incidence and risk factors of VTE within 1-year after esophageal (including esophago-gastric junction) (ECS) and gastric (GCS) cancer surgeries, and especially its impact on 1-year global mortality, are yet under-explored.

METHODS

This nationwide observational population-based cohort study used data extracted from all patients undergoing ECS and GCS in France between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2017. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for 90 postoperative days (POD) VTE (OR 95% CI). Cox proportional hazards models investigated the impact of 1-year postoperative VTE on 1-year global mortality [HR (95% CI)].

RESULTS

During the study period, 8005 patients underwent ECS ( N =3429) or GCS ( N =4576) (31.8% female; 66.7±12.1 years old). Majority ( N =4951) of patients had preoperative treatment (chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy). Ninety POD incidence of VTE were 4.7% (ECS=6.2%) (GCS=3.6%) (44.7% during first hospitalization, 19.0% needing readmission, and 36.3% ambulatory management). Main risk factors were three and two field esophagectomy [3.6 (2.20-5.83) and 2.2 (1.68-3.0)], obesity [1.9 (1.40-2.58)] and history of VTE [5.1 (2.72-9.45)]. Late-onset VTE rates (occurring between the 6th and 12th month) represented 1.80 and 1.46% of the overall ECS and GCS groups. Patients with VTE within 1-year had higher risks of 1-year global mortality: (2.04 1.52; 2.73) and 2.71 (2.09; 3.51), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our extensive analysis of a nationwide database highlights the significant risk of postoperative VTE after ECS and GCS, persisting within 90 POD and up to 1-year. Crucially, a higher risk of global mortality within 1-year for patients experiencing early or late VTE was found. These findings could advocate for further research into extended prophylactic regimens, particularly for those most at risk.

Safety of postdischarge extended venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery

BACKGROUND

The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery is high. Extended postdischarge prophylaxis in this patient population has been controversial. This study aimed to examine the safety of postdischarge extended VTE prophylaxis in patients at high risk of VTE events after HPB surgery.

METHODS

Adult patients risk stratified as very high risk of VTE who underwent HPB operations between 2014 and 2020 at a quaternary care center were included. Patients were matched 1:2 extended VTE prophylaxis to the control group (patients who did not receive extended prophylaxis). Analyses compared the proportions of adverse bleeding events between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 307 patients were included: 103 in the extended prophylaxis group and 204 in the matched control group. Demographics were similar between groups. More patients in the extended VTE prophylaxis group had a history of VTE (9% vs 3%; P = .045). There was no difference in bleeding events between the extended VTE prophylaxis and the control group (6% vs 2%; P = .091). Of the 6 patients with bleeding events in the VTE prophylaxis group, 5 had gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and 1 had hemarthrosis. Of the 4 patients with bleeding events in the control group, 1 had intra-abdominal bleeding, 2 had GI bleeding, and 1 had intra-abdominal and GI bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Patients discharged with extended VTE prophylaxis after HPB surgery did not experience more adverse bleeding events compared with a matched control group. Routine postdischarge extended VTE prophylaxis is safe in patients at high risk of postoperative VTE after HPB surgery.

Risk of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing gastric cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common postoperative complication in patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer (GC). Although VTE incidence may vary among cancers, guidelines rarely stratify preventive methods for postoperative VTE by cancer type. The risk of VTE in patients undergoing surgery for GC remains unclear.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to determine the risk of VTE after GC surgery and discuss the clinical value of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in these cases. Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published from their inception to September 2022.

RESULTS

Overall, 13 studies (111,936 patients) were included. The overall 1-month incidence of VTE, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) after GC surgery was 1.8% (95% CI, 0.8-3.1%; I²=98.5%), 1.2% (95% CI, 0.5-2.1%; I²=96.1%), and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1-1.1%; I²=96.3%), respectively. The prevalence of postoperative VTE was comparable between Asian and Western populations (1.8% vs. 1.8%; P > 0.05). Compared with mechanical prophylaxis alone, mechanical plus pharmacological prophylaxis was associated with a significantly lower 1-month rate of postoperative VTE and DVT (0.6% vs. 2.9% and 0.6% vs. 2.8%, respectively; all P < 0.05), but not PE (P > 0.05). The 1-month postoperative incidence of VTE was not significantly different between laparoscopic and open surgery (1.8% vs. 4.3%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing GC surgery do not have a high risk of VTE. The incidence of VTE after GC surgery is not significantly different between Eastern and Western patients. Mechanical plus pharmacological prophylaxis is more effective than mechanical prophylaxis alone in postoperative VTE prevention. The VTE risk is comparable between open and laparoscopic surgery for GC.

Clinical profile, risk factors, and clinical outcomes in patients of venous thromboembolism at a tertiary care center

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) commonly presents as either deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Despite rapid advances in its diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, it still leads to significant morbidity and mortality.

Objectives

Our study predominantly aims at studying the clinical profile, risk factors, and the clinical outcomes in VTE patients presenting to a single tertiary care center to rapidly detect the disease and use appropriate thrombo-prophylaxis.

Materials and Methods

This was an prospective observational study involving 40 patients of confirmed cases of VTE who presented to this tertiary care hospital during a period from June 2017 to May 2019. Data collected included the age, sex, clinical presentation, risk factors, diagnostic modalities, and their clinical outcomes. Descriptive analysis was carried out by mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables; frequency and proportion for the categorical variables.

Results

Among the study groups, 30 (74%) had DVT, 4 (11%) had PE, and 6 (15%) had both. Major risk factors detected included smoking history (44%), recent surgery (15%), malignancy (11%), history of immobility (10%), and past history of DVT (15%). The clinical presentation mainly included leg pain (62%) and leg swelling (87%).The outcomes were predominantly re-canalization (31%), recurrent DVT (21%), recurrent PE (1%), chronic DVT (27%), chronic venous insufficiency (36%), chronic venous ulcer (7%), pulmonary hypertension (16%), and death (5%). In our study population, the most common pro-thrombotic state was found to be hyperhomocysteinemia.

Conclusions

In our study of VTE patients, we have highlighted the possible risk factors, clinical presentation, and clinical outcomes to identify the disease early and help us initiate appropriate thromboprophylaxis to reduce morbidity.

The Role of Injectables in the Treatment and Prevention of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis

Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is a leading cause of death among patients with cancer. CAT can manifest itself as venous thromboembolism (VTE), in the form of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, or arterial thromboembolism. The pathophysiology of CAT is complex and depends on cancer-, patient-, treatment- and biomarkers-related factors. Treatment of VTE in patients with cancer is complex and includes three major classes of anticoagulant agents: heparin and its derivatives, e.g., low molecular weight heparins, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), and vitamin K inhibitors. Given the tremendous heterogeneity of clinical situations in patients with cancer and the challenges of CAT, there is no single universal treatment option for patients suffering from or at risk of CAT. Initial studies suggested that patients seemed to prefer an anticoagulant that would not interfere with their cancer treatment, suggesting the primacy of cancer over VTE, and favoring efficacy and safety over convenience of route of administration. Recent studies show that when the efficacy and safety aspects are similar, patients prefer the oral route of administration. Despite this, injectables are a valid option for many patients with cancer.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing surgery for retroperitoneal tumors: a propensity-matched retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common postoperative complication; however, the incidence and risk stratification of postoperative VTE in patients with retroperitoneal tumor remains unclear. The authors aim to quantify the incidence, identify risk factors, and determine the outcomes of VTE in patients undergoing retroperitoneal tumor surgery.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and overall survival (OS) of patients (VTE and non-VTE) who underwent retroperitoneal tumor surgery between 2015 and 2020. Perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared using propensity-matching and Cox analyses.

RESULTS

Of 1223 patients with retroperitoneal tumor surgery, 2.1% had VTE. Age [odds ratio (OR) 1.140, 95% CI: 1.053-1.239, P =0.004], recurrence (OR 1.851, 95% CI: 1.241-2.761, P =0.003), and vascular resection (OR 2.036, 95% CI: 1.054-3.934, P =0.034) were independent risk factors, with significant between-group differences regarding age, recurrence, sarcoma, organ resection, vascular resection, and operation time. No between-group differences in 30-day all-cause mortality (8 vs. 4%, OR 0.657, 95% CI: 0.375-1.151, P =0.427) and major complications (12 vs. 8%, OR 0.775, 95% CI: 0.483-1.244, P =0.572) were observed. Mean hospitalization duration (20.1 vs. 22.9 days, OR 1.153, 95% CI: 1.022-1.386, P =0.033) and ICU stay (3.2 vs. 5.5 days, OR 1.193, 95% CI: 1.034-1.347, P =0.012) were shorter in non-VTE versus VTE, respectively, with inferior OS (hazard ratio 2.090, 95% CI: 1.014-4.308, P =0.046) in VTE.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, recurrence, and vascular resection are positively associated with VTE, which is associated with inferior OS.

Venous thromboembolism in Japanese patients with breast cancer: subgroup analysis of the Cancer-VTE Registry

BACKGROUND

This subgroup analysis of the Cancer-VTE Registry, a nationwide, large-scale, multicenter observational study with a 1-year follow-up, assessed real-world data on venous thromboembolism (VTE) among Japanese patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

Patients with stage II-IV pretreatment breast cancer screened for VTE at enrollment were included. During the 1-year follow-up period, incidences of VTE, bleeding, and all-cause death, and background factors associated with VTE risk were examined.

RESULTS

Of 9,630 patients in the Cancer-VTE Registry analysis set, 993 (10.3%) had breast cancer (973 [98.0%] did not have and 20 [2.0%] had VTE at baseline). The mean age was 58.4 years, 73.4% of patients had stage II cancer, and 94.8% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0. Risk factors for VTE at baseline by univariable analysis were age ≥ 65 years, ECOG PS of 2, VTE history, and D-dimer > 1.2 μg/mL. During follow-up, the incidence of symptomatic VTE was 0.4%; incidental VTE requiring treatment, 0.1%; composite VTE (symptomatic VTE and incidental VTE requiring treatment), 0.5%; bleeding, 0.2%; cerebral infarction/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolic event, 0.2%; and all-cause death, 2.1%. One patient with symptomatic VTE developed pulmonary embolism (PE) and died. Incidences of VTE and all-cause death were higher in patients with VTE vs without VTE at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

In Japanese patients with breast cancer, VTE screening before initiating cancer treatment revealed a 2.0% prevalence of VTE. During follow-up, one patient had a fatal outcome due to PE, but the incidences of VTE were low.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN000024942; UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ .

Joint 2022 European Society of Thoracic Surgeons and The American Association for Thoracic Surgery guidelines for the prevention of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism in thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a potentially fatal but preventable postoperative complication. Thoracic oncology patients undergoing surgical resection, often after multimodality induction therapy, represent among the highest risk groups for postoperative VTE. Currently there are no VTE prophylaxis guidelines specific to these thoracic surgery patients. Evidenced-based recommendations will help clinicians manage and mitigate risk of VTE in the postoperative period and inform best practice.

OBJECTIVE

These joint evidence-based guidelines from The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons aim to inform clinicians and patients in decisions about prophylaxis to prevent VTE in patients undergoing surgical resection for lung or esophageal cancer.

METHODS

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel that included broad membership to minimize potential bias when formulating recommendations. The McMaster University GRADE Centre supported the guideline development process, including updating or performing systematic evidence reviews. The panel prioritized clinical questions and outcomes according to their importance for clinicians and patients. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used, including GRADE Evidence-to-Decision frameworks, which were subject to public comment.

RESULTS

The panel agreed on 24 recommendations focused on pharmacological and mechanical methods for prophylaxis in patients undergoing lobectomy and segmentectomy, pneumonectomy, and esophagectomy, as well as extended resections for lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The certainty of the supporting evidence for the majority of recommendations was judged as low or very low, largely due to a lack of direct evidence for thoracic surgery. The panel made conditional recommendations for use of parenteral anticoagulation for VTE prevention, in combination with mechanical methods, over no prophylaxis for cancer patients undergoing anatomic lung resection or esophagectomy. Other key recommendations include: conditional recommendations for using parenteral anticoagulants over direct oral anticoagulants, with use of direct oral anticoagulants suggested only in the context of clinical trials; conditional recommendation for using extended prophylaxis for 28 to 35 days over in-hospital prophylaxis only for patients at moderate or high risk of thrombosis; and conditional recommendations for VTE screening in patients undergoing pneumonectomy and esophagectomy. Future research priorities include the role of preoperative thromboprophylaxis and the role of risk stratification to guide use of extended prophylaxis.

Joint 2022 European Society of Thoracic Surgeons and The American Association for Thoracic Surgery guidelines for the prevention of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism in thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a potentially fatal but preventable postoperative complication. Thoracic oncology patients undergoing surgical resection, often after multimodality induction therapy, represent among the highest risk groups for postoperative VTE. Currently there are no VTE prophylaxis guidelines specific to these thoracic surgery patients. Evidenced-based recommendations will help clinicians manage and mitigate risk of VTE in the postoperative period and inform best practice.

OBJECTIVE

These joint evidence-based guidelines from The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons aim to inform clinicians and patients in decisions about prophylaxis to prevent VTE in patients undergoing surgical resection for lung or esophageal cancer.

METHODS

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel that included broad membership to minimize potential bias when formulating recommendations. The McMaster University GRADE Centre supported the guideline development process, including updating or performing systematic evidence reviews. The panel prioritized clinical questions and outcomes according to their importance for clinicians and patients. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used, including GRADE Evidence-to-Decision frameworks, which were subject to public comment.

RESULTS

The panel agreed on 24 recommendations focused on pharmacological and mechanical methods for prophylaxis in patients undergoing lobectomy and segmentectomy, pneumonectomy, and esophagectomy, as well as extended resections for lung cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The certainty of the supporting evidence for the majority of recommendations was judged as low or very low, largely due to a lack of direct evidence for thoracic surgery. The panel made conditional recommendations for use of parenteral anticoagulation for VTE prevention, in combination with mechanical methods, over no prophylaxis for cancer patients undergoing anatomic lung resection or esophagectomy. Other key recommendations include: conditional recommendations for using parenteral anticoagulants over direct oral anticoagulants, with use of direct oral anticoagulants suggested only in the context of clinical trials; conditional recommendation for using extended prophylaxis for 28 to 35 days over in-hospital prophylaxis only for patients at moderate or high risk of thrombosis; and conditional recommendations for VTE screening in patients undergoing pneumonectomy and esophagectomy. Future research priorities include the role of preoperative thromboprophylaxis and the role of risk stratification to guide use of extended prophylaxis. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022;▪:1-31).

Development and validation of a nomogram to assess postoperative venous thromboembolism risk in patients with stage IA non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common postoperative complication in patients with lung cancer that seriously affects prognosis and quality of life. At present, the detection rate of patients with early-stage lung cancer is increasing, but there are few studies on the risk factors for postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to establish a nomogram for predicting the probability of postoperative VTE risk in patients with stage IA NSCLC.

METHODS

The clinical data of 452 patients with stage IA NSCLC from January 2017 to January 2022 in our center were retrospectively analyzed and randomly divided into a training set and a validation set at a ratio of 7:3. Independent risk factors were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and a nomogram was established based on the results and internally validated. The predictive power of the nomogram was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

The nomogram prediction model included three risk factors: age, preoperative D-dimer, and intermuscular vein dilatation. The areas under the ROC curve of this predictive model were 0.832 (95% CI: 0.732-0.924) and 0.791 (95% CI: 0.668-0.930) in the training and validation sets, respectively, showing good discriminative power. In addition, the probability of postoperative VTE occurrence predicted by the nomogram was consistent with the actual occurrence probability. In the decision curve, the nomogram model had a better net clinical benefit at a threshold probability of 5%-90%.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of postoperative VTE in patients with stage IA NSCLC; this nomogram can accurately and intuitively evaluate the probability of VTE in these patients and help clinicians make decisions on prevention and treatment.

Prevalence and risk factors of preoperative venous thromboembolism in patients with malignant musculoskeletal tumors: an analysis based on D-dimer screening and imaging

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major complication in patients with malignant tumors and orthopedic disorders. Although it is known that patients undergoing surgery for malignant musculoskeletal tumor are at an increased risk of thromboembolic events, only few studies have investigated this risk in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for preoperative VTE in malignant musculoskeletal tumors patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 270 patients who underwent surgical procedures, including biopsy for malignant musculoskeletal tumor, have undergone measurements of preoperative D-dimer levels, and were subsequently screened for VTE by lower extremity venous ultrasonography and/or contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the prevalence and risk factors for VTE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to verify the D-dimer cutoff value for the diagnosis of VTE.

Results

Overall, 199 patients (103 with primary soft tissue sarcomas, 38 with primary bone sarcomas, 46 with metastatic tumors, and 12 with hematologic malignancies) were included. D-dimer levels were high in 79 patients; VTE was detected in 19 patients (9.5%). Multivariate analysis indicated that age ≥ 60 years (P = 0.021) and tumor location in the lower limbs (P = 0.048) were independent risk factors for VTE. ROC analysis showed that the D-dimer cutoff value for the diagnosis of VTE was 1.53 µg/mL; the sensitivity and specificity were 89.5% and 79.4%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that age and tumor location in the lower limbs were independent risk factors for preoperative VTE in malignant musculoskeletal tumors patients. D-dimer levels were not associated with VTE in the multivariate analysis, likely because they are affected by a wide variety of conditions, such as malignancy and aging. D-dimer is useful for exclusion diagnosis because of its high sensitivity, but patients with high age and tumor location in the lower limbs are a high-risk group and should be considered for imaging evaluation such as ultrasonography regardless of D-dimer levels.

Trial registration

Our study was approved by the institutional review board. The registration number is B200600056. The registration date was July 13, 2020.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12959-022-00382-2.

Postoperative venous thromboembolism after surgery for stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer: A single-center, prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common postoperative complication of lung cancer, but the incidence and risk stratification of postoperative VTE in stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains unclear, therefore we conducted a single-center prospective study.

METHODS

A total of 314 consecutive patients hospitalized for lung cancer surgery and diagnosed with stage IA NSCLC from January 2017 to July 2021 were included. The patients were divided into the VTE group and the non-VTE group according to whether VTE occurred after the operation. The patient's age, operation time, D-dimer (D-D) value, tumor pathology, and Caprini score were recorded. The different items were compared and included in logistic regression analysis to obtain independent risk factors, and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was calculated.

RESULTS

The incidence of VTE was 7.3%. Significant differences in age, operation time, preoperative and postoperative day 1 D-D value, neuron-specific enolase value, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximum ventilation, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity, and pathological diameter were noted between the two groups. Age (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.056-1.216) and postoperative day 1 D-D value (95% CI 1.125-1.767) were independent risk factors. The incidence of VTE in the low-, medium-, and high-risk groups with Caprini scores was 0%, 7.3%, and 11.5%, respectively. The AUC of the Caprini score was 0.704 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of postoperative VTE in patients with stage IA NSCLC was 7.3%. Age and postoperative day 1 D-D value were independent risk factors for VTE. The Caprini score has a certain value in the diagnosis of postoperative VTE of stage IA NSCLC.

Incidence, timing and risk factors of venous thromboembolic events in patients with pancreatic cancer

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, comprehensive data on incidence, timing and relevant determinants of VTE in this particular population are scarce. Current study assesses incidence, timing and predictors of VTE in pancreatic cancer through different phases of disease.

METHODS

All pancreatic cancer patients treated in our tertiary referral center between 2013 through 2017 were studied. Occurrence of VTE was evaluated from diagnosis through end of follow-up or death. Relevant determinants of VTE were identified in logistic regression models. Hazard ratios were calculated to evaluate impact of VTE on overall survival.

RESULTS

In total, 361 patients were followed for a median period of 43 months; 64 were diagnosed with VTE (18%). Most were tumor related thrombosis (59%), incidental (75%) and occurred after anti-cancer treatment had been stopped (80%), only 1.6% occurred during remission phase. Stage IV pancreatic cancer was a predictor for VTE (hazard ratio (HR) 2.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9-6.8). Biliary drainage (HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.28-0.98) and tumor resection (HR 0.45, 95%CI 0.45-1.83) were protective factors. VTE was not associated with worse survival (HR 1.3; 95% CI 0.97-1.74).

CONCLUSIONS

VTE in pancreatic cancer is disease-stage dependent, with 80% occurring in advanced phases of disease when patients no longer receive active treatment. We speculate that this is the main reason for the absence of a survival effect of VTE in our cohort. These practice-based findings should be taken into account when considering wide-spread introduction of primary thromboprophylaxis in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Oncologists' attitudes towards prophylaxis of cancer associated venous thromboembolism: A prospective, descriptive study

INTRODUCTION

Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism creates a big burden on both patients and healthcare systems. Clinical guidelines have a consensus on the initiation of prophylactic treatment for hospitalised patients, however a debate still exists for ambulatory cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to identify attitudes and practices of medical oncologists on cancer-associated venous thromboembolism management.

METHODS

An online survey consisting of 22 questions was developed by researchers in the view of previous studies and delivered to 100 medical oncologists registered to the national society of medical oncology by e-mail between September and October 2018. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23.0 (ICM Corp. Released 2015. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp).

RESULTS

A total of 62 medical oncologists (75.8% male) responded to the survey (response rate of 62%). The most critical three risk factors considered for initiating prophylaxis were prior venous thromboembolism history, immobilisation and tumour/cancer type for inpatients and outpatients (χ² test, p < 0.001). The first choice of drug for prophylaxis was mostly low molecular weight heparins (n = 60, 96.8%). In the absence of contraindications, physicians initiate prophylaxis 'usually' for inpatients (n = 25, 40.3%) and outpatients (n = 5, 8.1%). However routine use of the Khorana score is not incorporated into the risk assessment process of cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

Attitudes of oncologists towards thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients are consistent with previous studies in the literature. The respondents are aware of the venous thromboembolism risk of cancer patients, however raising awareness on both cancer-associated venous thromboembolism and current guideline recommendations is needed.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of incidence, prognosis, and laboratory indicators of venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019

OBJECTIVE

We have summarized the incidence, anticoagulation panels, laboratory characteristics, and mortality of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS

After systematically searching PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, MedRxiv, and BioRxiv, a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 retrospective, 6 prospective observational, and 2 cross-sectional studies was performed according to the guidelines of the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) statement.

RESULTS

Overall, 4382 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were included. Men accounted for significantly more patients than did women (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-2.02; P < .001). The total incidence of VTE among the patients with COVID-19 was 28.3% (95% CI, 21.6%-35.4%), with an incidence of 38.0% (95% CI, 29.1%-47.4%) and 17.2% (95% CI, 11.4%-23.8%) among those with severe and general COVID-19, respectively. The total incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities was 18.3% (95% CI, 10.8%-27.2%). The incidence of DVT was 22.1% (95% CI, 11.0%-35.5%) and 12.8% (95% CI, 5.0%-23.3%) in those with severe and general COVID-19, respectively. The total incidence of pulmonary embolism was 17.6% (95% CI, 12.3%-23.5%), with a rate of 21.7% (95% CI, 14.8%-29.3%) in severe cases and 12.5% (95% CI, 6.1%-23.5%) in general cases. When COVID-19 severity was unclassified, the mortality for the patients with VTE was not significantly greater (25.2%; 95% CI, 12.2%-40.5%) than that for those without VTE (10.2%; 95% CI, 3.4%-19.5%; OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 0.46-7.64; P = .377). However, among the patients with severe COVID-19, those who had developed VTE had significantly greater mortality compared with those without VTE (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.15-3.53; P = .014). The patients with COVID-19 and VTE had significantly higher D-dimer levels than did similar patients without VTE in multiple studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of VTE, DVT, and pulmonary embolism has been substantial among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, especially among those with severe COVID-19. Patients with severe COVID-19 and VTE had significantly greater mortality compared with similar patients without VTE. An increased D-dimer level might be an indicator of the occurrence of VTE in patients with COVID-19.

Relationship of Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and CD62P With Hypercoagulable State After Oncologic Surgery

The biomarkers for predicting venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) after oncologic surgery are still lacking. The current study aimed to analyze the relationships of CD62P and GP IIb/IIIa with hypercoagulation after oncologic surgery. A total of 76 patients with primary abdominopelvic tumors in our hospital were enrolled. The patients were divided into groups A (malignancy with no VTE group), B (malignancy with VTE group), and C (benign with no VTE group). Twenty healthy volunteers were selected as control. The plasma CD62P (4.69 ± 2.55 vs. 1.76 ± 0.48) and the GP IIb/IIIa (9.28 ± 3.79 vs. 1.76 ± 0.48) levels in group A were significantly higher than those in the control group preoperatively. The CD62P (31.46 ± 17.13 vs. 13.51 ± 7.43, P < 0.05), GP IIb/IIIa (42.33 ± 21.82 vs. 13.51 ± 7.43, P < 0.05), and D-dimer (7.33 ± 2.34 vs. 2.03 ± 0.55, P < 0.05) levels in group B were markedly higher 7 days after operation compared with those in group A. The CD62P and the GP IIb/IIIa exhibited a positive correlation with the hypercoagulable state after oncologic surgery.

Thromboembolic complications after surgical fixation of bone metastases: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing a major orthopedic surgery for metastatic bone disease (MBD) are at high risk of developing venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications. Despite concerns, there is no consensus on the most effective strategy to prevent VTE in these patients. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the VTE rate following the surgical management of MBD.

METHODS

The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched using keywords related to VTE and MBD requiring surgical management. Included studies reported VTE rates in patients with surgically managed MBD. Descriptive statistics and weighted mean totals were calculated.

RESULTS

In total, 2082 abstracts were screened, and 29 studies were included. The overall VTE rate was 4.7%. Patients receiving surgery for impending pathologic fracture had a higher rate of VTE (5.6%) compared to patients with acute pathologic fractures (4.2%). Low-molecular-weight heparin was the most used chemoprophylaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

Relative to other cancer and orthopedic patients, the VTE rate is extremely high in patients with MBD. The discordant recommendations of thromboprophylaxis, and absence of research in this distinct and more granular surgical oncology subgroup, underpins the challenges associated with developing guidelines to lessen the VTE risks in the MBD patient population.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in thoracic surgery patients: an international survey

OBJECTIVES

Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) after thoracic surgery (TS) can be prevented with mechanical and chemical prophylaxis. Unlike other surgical specialties, TS lacks evidence-based guidelines. In the process of developing these guidelines, an understanding of the current prophylaxis methods practiced internationally is necessary and is described in this article.

METHODS

A 26-item survey was distributed to members of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS), American Association of Thoracic Surgery (AATS), Japanese Association for Chest Surgery (JACS) and Chinese Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (CSTCS) electronically or in person. Participants were asked to report their current prophylaxis selection, timing of initiation and duration of prophylaxis, perceived risk factors and the presence and adherence to institutional VTE guidelines for patients undergoing TS for malignancies.

RESULTS

In total, 1613 surgeons anonymously completed the survey with an overall 36% response rate. Respondents were senior surgeons working in large academic hospitals (≥70%, respectively). More than 83.5% of ESTS, AATS and JACS respondents report formal TS thromboprophylaxis protocols in their institutions, but 53% of CSTCS members report not having such a protocol. The regions varied in the approaches utilized for VTE prophylaxis, the timing of initiation perioperatively and the use and type of extended prophylaxis. Respondents reported that multiple risk factors and sources of information impact their VTE prophylaxis decision-making processes, and these factors vastly diverge regionally.

CONCLUSIONS

There is little agreement internationally on the optimal approach to thromboprophylaxis in the TS population, and guidelines will be helpful and vastly welcomed.

Development and validation of a risk calculator for post-discharge venous thromboembolism following hepatectomy for malignancy

BACKGROUND

Post-discharge venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis decreases VTEs following cancer surgery, however identifying high-risk patients remains difficult. Our objectives were to (1) identify factors available at hospital discharge associated with post-discharge VTE following hepatectomy for malignancy and (2) develop and validate a post-discharge VTE risk calculator to evaluate patient-specific risk.

METHODS

Patients who underwent hepatectomy for malignancy from 2014 to 2017 were identified from the ACS NSQIP hepatectomy procedure targeted module. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with post-discharge VTE. A post-discharge VTE risk calculator was constructed, and predicted probabilities of post-discharge VTE were calculated.

RESULTS

Among 11 172 patients, 95 (0.9%) developed post-discharge VTE. Post-discharge VTE was associated with obese BMI (OR 2.29 vs. normal BMI [95%CI 1.31-3.99]), right hepatectomy/trisegmentectomy (OR 1.63 vs. partial/wedge [95%CI 1.04-2.57]), and several inpatient postoperative complications: renal insufficiency (OR 5.29 [95%CI 1.99-14.07]), transfusion (OR 1.77 [95%CI 1.12-2.80]), non-operative procedural intervention (OR 2.97 [95%CI 1.81-4.86]), and post-hepatectomy liver failure (OR 2.22 [95%CI 1.21-4.08]). Post-discharge VTE risk ranged from 0.3% to 30.2%. Twenty iterations of 10-fold cross validation identified internal validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors from all phases of care, including inpatient complications, are associated with post-discharge VTE following hepatectomy. Identifying high-risk patients may allow for personalized risk-based post-discharge chemoprophylaxis prescribing.

A Prospective Multicenter Observational Study of Venous Thromboembolism after Gastric Cancer Surgery (SHISA-1601)

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to clarify the frequency and risk factors of intercurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing major curative gastric cancer surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, multicenter, observational study included patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy at 5 hospitals between June 2016 and May 2018. Patients who were preoperatively administered anticoagulants were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 126 patients were eligible to participate. VTE occurred within 9 days postoperatively in 5 cases (4.0%; 2 symptomatic and 3 asymptomatic). Postoperative day (POD) 1 plasma D-dimer and soluble fibrin (SF) levels were significantly higher in the VTE group than in the non-VTE group. Receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis indicated a statistically significant ability of POD 1 D-dimer and SF levels to predict postoperative VTE development after gastrectomy; this finding was reflected by an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.97 (95% CI 0.92-1.0) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.74-1.0), respectively. Cutoff values of D-dimer (24.6 µg/mL) and SF (64.1 µg/mL) were determined. Intraoperative blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR] 7.86), POD 1 D-dimer ≥24.6 µg/mL (OR 17.35), and POD 1 SF ≥64.1 µg/mL (OR 19.5) were independent predictive factors for postoperative VTE (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

VTE occurred in 4.0% patients (1.6% symptomatic and 2.4% asymptomatic) after gastric cancer surgery; however, with an early diagnosis and anticoagulant therapy, no patients experienced progression. Careful observation of patients with a high risk for VTE, including intraoperative blood transfusion and high POD 1 D-dimer or SF levels, would contribute to the early detection of VTE.

Validation of the Khorana Score for Prediction of Venous Thromboembolism After Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy

Introduction: The Khorana score (KS) is used to predict the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) for cancer patients. We sought to assess the association between KS and VTE for patients who underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). Materials and Methods: We reviewed our prospectively maintained quality assurance RARC database between 2005 and 2020. KS was calculated for all patients (one point for each body mass index [BMI] ≥35 kg/m², platelet count ≥350 × 10⁹/L, leukocyte count >11 × 10⁹/L, and hemoglobin level <10 g/dL, or use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents). All patients received one point by default for the cancer type (bladder). Patients were divided into intermediate-risk (KS 1-2) or high-risk (KS ≥3) groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the ability of KS to predict VTE. Kaplan-Meier curves were stratified based on their KS risk and used to depict overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis (MVA) was used to identify variables associated with VTE. Results: Out of 589 patients, 33 (6%) developed VTE (18 had deep vein thrombosis and 15 had pulmonary embolism). Five hundred forty-six (93%) patients had intermediate-risk KS and 30 (5%) of them developed VTE. Forty-three (7%) patients were classified as high-risk KS and 3 (7%) developed VTE. This difference was not significant (p = 0.73). The KS area under the curve for VTE prediction was 0.51. On MVA, BMI ≥35 kg/m² (odds ratio [OR] 2.69, confidence interval [CI] 1.19-6.11, p = 0.02), longer inpatient stay (OR 1.04, CI 1.003-1.07, p = 0.03), and ≥pT₃ disease (OR 2.29, CI 1.11-4.71, p = 0.03) were associated with VTE, whereas KS was not associated with VTE (p = 0.68). Five-year OS of patients with intermediate KS was 53% compared with 30% for high-risk KS (log rank p < 0.01). Conclusion: KS underestimated VTE risk after RARC and showed poor accuracy. This highlights the need to develop procedure-specific tools to estimate the risk of VTE after RARC.

Timing and characteristics of venous thromboembolism after noncancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality postoperatively. The use of pharmacologic prophylaxis is effective in reducing the incidence of VTE. However, the prophylaxis is often discontinued at hospital discharge, especially for those with benign disease. The implications of this practice are not known. We assessed the data from a large, ongoing registry regarding the time course of VTE and outcomes after noncancer surgery.

METHODS

We analyzed the RIETE (Computerized Registry on Venous Thromboembolism) registry, which includes data from consecutive patients with symptomatic confirmed VTE. In the present study, we focused on general surgical patients who had developed symptomatic postoperative VTE in the first 8 weeks after noncancer surgery. The main objective was to assess the interval between surgery and the occurrence of VTE. Additional variables included the clinical presentation associated with the event, the use of thrombosis prophylaxis, and unfavorable outcomes.

RESULTS

The data from 3296 patients were analyzed. The median time from surgery to the detection of VTE was 16 days (interquartile range, 8-30 days). Of the VTE events, 77% were detected after the first postoperative week and 27% after 4 weeks. Overall, 43.9% of the patients with VTE had received pharmacologic prophylaxis after surgery for a median of 8 days (interquartile range, 5-14 days), and three quarters of the VTE events were detected after pharmacologic prophylaxis had been discontinued. Overall, 54% of the patients with VTE had presented with pulmonary embolism. For 15% of the patients, the clinical outcome was unfavorable, including 4% who had died within 90 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of VTE after noncancer general surgery remains high for ≤2 months. More than one half of the patients had presented with symptomatic PE as the VTE event, and 15% had had unfavorable outcomes. Only 44% of these patients had received pharmacologic prophylaxis for around 1 week.

Venous thromboembolism in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma after surgery

BACKGROUND

Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. We hypothesized that patients with adrenocortical carcinoma are at high risk for venous thromboembolism, given the numerous risk factors such as malignancy, abdominal surgery, immobility and hormonal excess. The aim of this study was to determine retrospectively the incidence of venous thromboembolisms after surgical treatment in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was performed, collecting data from all patients diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma from 2003 to 2018 at the Radboud University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.

RESULTS

In 34 patients, eight postoperative venous thromboembolisms, all pulmonary embolisms, were diagnosed in the first 6 months after adrenalectomy (23.5%). In addition, one patient developed pulmonary embolism just prior to surgery and one patient 7 years after surgery. Five of the eight patients with postoperative venous thromboembolisms presented with symptomatic pulmonary embolism whereas the other three pulmonary embolisms were incidentally found on regular follow up CT scans. Seven of the eight venous thromboembolisms occurred within 10 weeks after surgery. Seven of the eight patients had advanced stage adrenocortical carcinoma and four patients already received low-molecular weight heparin during the development of the venous thromboembolism. There was one case of fatal pulmonary embolism in a patient with a cortisol producing tumor with pulmonary metastases, despite the use of a therapeutic dose thromboprophylaxis.

CONCLUSION

Patients with adrenocortical carcinoma are at high risk of developing postoperative venous thromboembolisms. Prolonged postoperative thromboprophylaxis could be considered in these patients.

Post-discharge venous thromboembolism after pancreatectomy for malignancy: Predicting risk based on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Extended chemoprophylaxis is recommended for high-risk patients following pancreatectomy for malignancy. However, quantifying risk remains difficult. We sought to (a) identify factors associated with post-discharge venous thromboembolism (VTE) following pancreatectomy for malignancy and (b) develop a post-discharge VTE risk calculator to identify high-risk patients.

METHODS

Patients who underwent pancreatectomy for malignant histology from 2014 to 2018 were identified from the ACS NSQIP pancreatectomy procedure targeted dataset. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors known at hospital discharge were evaluated for association with post-discharge VTE via multivariable logistic regression. A post-discharge VTE risk calculator was developed and validated.

RESULTS

Of 19 340 analyzed patients, 280 (1.5%) developed post-discharge VTE. Post-discharge VTE was associated with increasing body mass index (BMI; eg, morbidly obese BMI odds ratio [OR]: 1.99 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.30-3.02] vs normal BMI), procedure type (distal pancreatectomy OR: 1.47 [95% CI: 1.02-2.12] vs pancreaticoduodenectomy), pancreatic fistula (OR: 1.59 [95% CI: 1.19-2.13]) and delayed gastric emptying (OR: 1.81 [95% CI: 1.29-2.52]). Patients' predicted probability of post-discharge VTE ranged from 0.7% to 9.0%. Twenty iterations of 10-fold cross-validation demonstrated internal validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors were associated with post-discharge VTE following pancreatectomy for malignancy. This post-discharge VTE risk calculator allows for quantification of individual post-discharge VTE risk, which ranged from 0.7% to 9.0%.

Rates, Risk Factors, and Complications of Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery: An Analysis of a Prospective Multicenter Surgical Database

OBJECTIVE

To identify rates, risks, and complications of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in metastatic spinal tumor surgery.

METHODS

The multicenter prospective American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program database was queried for the years 2012-2016. Adult patients with disseminated cancer who underwent metastatic spinal tumor surgery were identified. Transfusion was defined as having received at least 1 intraoperative/postoperative RBC transfusion within the first 72 hours of surgery start time. A stepwise multiple logistic regression model with backward elimination was used.

RESULTS

Of 1601 patients identified, 623 patients (38.9%) received a RBC transfusion. Independent predictors of RBC transfusion included higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class (odds ratio [OR] = 1.54), preoperative anemia (OR = 3.10), instrumentation (OR = 1.63), and longer operative time (OR = 1.52). The overall complication rate was significantly higher in patients who received a transfusion compared with patients who did not receive a transfusion (22.3% vs. 15.0%, P < 0.001). Individual complications that were more common in patients who received a transfusion were sepsis (3.5% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.050), deep vein thrombosis (6.1% vs. 3.3%, P = 0.007), and prolonged ventilation (3.9% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.001). RBC transfusion (OR = 1.65), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 1.53), and anterior/anterolateral approaches for corpectomy (OR = 2.11) were independent risk factors for developing a postoperative complication.

CONCLUSIONS

RBC transfusion after metastatic spinal tumor surgery may increase the risk of early postoperative complications. Future research into preoperative patient optimization and decreasing intraoperative blood loss is needed.

Prognosis and risk factors in older patients with lung cancer and pulmonary embolism: a propensity score matching analysis

Older patients, especially those with malignancy, may have an increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, few studies have evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of older patients. We evaluated the clinical characteristics, prognosis, and risk factors in older patients with lung cancer complicated with PE. This was a single-center, prospective cohort study. Older patients (≥65 years) with lung cancer admitted in Beijing Hospital from January 2006 to December 2016 were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of PE using propensity score matching (PSM). After PSM, one hundred and six patients (53 per group) with an average age of (77.3 ± 10.9) years were enrolled. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histology in patients with PE (52.8%, n = 28), and most lung cancer patients were in stages III and IV (59.4%, n = 63). Patients with PE were stratified to low risk (52.8%, n = 28), intermediate-low risk (24.5%, n = 13), intermediate-high risk (15.1%, n = 8), high-risk (7.5%, n = 4) subgroups. Most PE patients presented with dyspnea (75.5%), and the majority of patients (86.8%, n = 46) developed PE within 3 months after the diagnosis of cancer. The median follow-up time was 23.7 months (12.0-62.0 months), and 7 patients (6.6%) were lost to follow-up. During the follow-up period, 92 patients (86.8%) died, including 8 cases (8.7%) of PE-related death, 73 (79.3%) of tumor death, and 11 (11.9%) of unknown cause. There were significant differences in all-cause mortality (94.3% vs. 83.0%) and PE-related mortality (15.1% vs. 0) between the PE and control groups, but the rate of tumor-related mortality (75.5% vs. 66.0%) was comparable between the groups. Among the 92 patients who died, the mortality rates at 3, 6, 12, and > 12 months after tumor diagnosis were 33.0% (33/106), 57.5% (61/106), 78.3% (83/106), and 89.6% (95/106), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the median overall survival time was significantly different between the PE and the control groups (4.3 vs. 9.2 months, P = 0.0015). Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 77 years (OR = 2.58, 95%CI: 1.66-4.01), clinical stage III-IV (OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.03-4.74), adenocarcinoma (OR = 3.24, 95%CI: 1.75-6.00), high D-dimer (≥600 mg/L) (OR = 2.73, 95%CI: 1.25-5.96), and low partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂; <75 mmHg) (OR = 2.85, 95%CI: 1.74-4.67) were independent risk factors for PE in older patients with lung cancer. Older patients with lung cancer and PE often have poor prognosis. Advanced age, clinical stage III-IV, adenocarcinoma, high D-dimer level, and low PaO₂ are independent risk factors for PE.

Venous Thromboembolism in Patents With Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in Japan. Studies in other countries have reported a venous thromboembolism (VTE) rate of 4%-20% in cancer patients. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of VTE in lung cancer patients in Japan and compared the characteristics of patients with and without VTE. In this retrospective cohort study, the clinicopathological characteristics of study patients with and without concomitant VTE were compared. Patients with lung cancer treated at Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Japan from 2008 to 2017. Of the 1471 patients with lung cancer studied, 28 developed VTE. Five patients developed pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) alone, 9 PTE with concomitant deep vein thrombosis, and 14 deep vein thrombosis alone. Compared with patients in the non-VTE group, the VTE group was significantly younger (mean value ± SD 66.3 ± 10.1 vs. 73.0 ± 10.6 years, p = 0.001), contained significantly more patients with stage IIIb-IV disease (p = 0.002), and had a significantly higher rate of chemotherapy (p < 0.001) and radiation therapy (p = 0.007). There was no significant difference in median survival time from lung cancer diagnosis between the VTE and non-VTE groups. The 1-year mortality rate after VTE diagnosis was 60.7%. Lung cancer was the most frequent cause of death, followed by infection and VTE. Several baseline characteristics differed between patients with and without VTE. The prognosis may worsen after development of VTE, suggesting that lung cancer patients should be carefully monitored for it.

Pre-Operative, Intra-Operative, and Post-Operative Factors Associated with Post-Discharge Venous Thromboembolism Following Colorectal Cancer Resection

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the most common preventable cause of 30-day post-operative mortality, with many events occurring after hospital discharge. High-level evidence supports post-discharge VTE chemoprophylaxis following abdominal/pelvic cancer resection; however, some studies support a more tailored approach. Our objectives were to (1) identify risk factors associated with post-discharge VTE in a large cohort of patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection and (2) develop a post-discharge VTE risk calculator.

METHODS

Patients who underwent colorectal cancer resection from 2012 to 2016 were identified from ACS NSQIP colectomy and proctectomy procedure-targeted modules. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with post-discharge VTE. Incorporating pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative variables, a post-discharge VTE risk calculator was constructed and validated.

RESULTS

Of 51,139 patients, 387 (0.76%) developed post-discharge VTE. Pre-operative factors associated with post-discharge VTE included BMI (e.g., morbidly obese OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.65-3.12 vs. normal BMI), and thrombocytosis (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.03-1.92). Intra-operative factors included operative time (4-6 h OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.12-2.17; > 6 h, OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.21-2.84, vs. < 2 h), and type of operation (e.g., open partial colectomy OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.30-2.16 vs. laparoscopic partial colectomy). Post-operative factors included anastomotic leak (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.31-3.21) and post-operative ileus (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.07-1.79). Using the risk calculator, the predicted probability of post-discharge VTE ranged from 0.04 to 10.29%. On a 10-fold cross validation, the calculator's mean C-Statistic was 0.65.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-specific factors are associated with varying rates of post-discharge VTE. We present the first post-discharge VTE risk calculator designed for use at the time of discharge following colorectal cancer resection.

[Retrospective Analysis of Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism in 283 Patients with Lung Cancer during Systemic Therapy]

背景与目的

肺癌患者是静脉血栓栓塞症（venous thrombo-embolism, VTE）的高危人群，合并VTE者具有较高的死亡率。本研究旨在明确接受系统性治疗肺癌患者的VTE发生情况及影响因素。

方法

回顾性分析2016年1月-2018年12月在北京大学第三医院肿瘤化疗与放射病科接受系统性治疗的283例肺癌患者，卡方检验分析VTE与临床特征间的关系，多因素回归分析影响VTE的高危因素。

结果

283例肺癌患者中，VTE发生率为12.01%（34/283）。有下肢静脉曲张组的VTE发生率为50.00%（5/10），显著高于无下肢静脉曲张组的9.89%（27/273）（P=0.001）。远处转移患者的VTE发生率为14.05%（26/185），高于带瘤但无远处转移患者的14.00%（7/50），且高于无瘤患者的2.08%（1/48）（P=0.024）。肿瘤活动组的VTE发生率为16.93%（21/124），显著高于稳定组的8.18%（3/159)（P=0.025）。首次药物治疗前白蛋白 < 35g/L组VTE发生率为22.00%（11/50），显著高于≥35 g/L组的9.87%（23/233）（P=0.017）；D-二聚体 > 0.3 μg/mL组VTE发生率为17.93%（26/145），显著高于≤0.3 μg/mL组的5.80%（8/138）（P=0.006）。接受PICC的患者上肢静脉血栓的发生率为9.71%（17/175），显著高于未行PICC组的1.85%（2/108）（P=0.010）。肺癌病理类型、白细胞、血红蛋白、血小板计数及是否接受抗血管生成药物治疗等因素与VTE的发生率无关。多因素分析显示下肢静脉曲张、低白蛋白血症、D-二聚体升高是VTE的独立影响因素。

结论

有无下肢静脉曲张、血白蛋白和D-二聚体水平或许是预测肺癌患者系统性治疗期间发生VTE更为有效的因子，可进一步建立新的预测模型并进行前瞻性验证。