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Deep vein thrombosis in ear, nose and throat surgery
Insights
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) screening using I125 labelled fibrinogen found no cases in ear surgery patients. However, sixteen percent of head and neck surgery patients developed DVT, with a high incidence at ankle drip sites.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Thrombosis Research
Background:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a significant risk following surgical procedures.
- Head and neck operations carry a notable risk of DVT, necessitating effective screening methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of I125 labelled fibrinogen scanning for detecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing head, neck, or ear surgery.
- To determine the incidence of DVT in specific surgical populations.
Main Methods:
- One hundred and three patients were screened for DVT using I125 labelled fibrinogen.
- Patients underwent either head and neck operations or ear operations.
- Ankle sites were monitored in a subset of head and neck surgery patients who used it as a drip site.
Main Results:
- No DVT was detected in thirty-five patients who underwent ear operations.
- Nine out of fifty-six patients (16%) who had head and neck operations developed DVT.
- Seven out of twelve patients (58%) using an ankle drip site for head and neck surgery developed DVT in that leg.
Conclusions:
- I125 labelled fibrinogen scanning is a viable method for DVT detection in surgical patients.
- Head and neck surgery is associated with a significant risk of DVT.
- Ankle drip sites in head and neck surgery patients may be a specific risk factor for developing DVT.
Abstract:
I. One hundred and three patients undergoing head and neck or ear operations were screened for deep vein thrombosis using I125 labelled fibrinogen. 2. No thrombosis was detected in thirty-five patients undergoing ear operations. 3. Nine (16%) of fifty-six patients who underwent head and neck operations subsequently developed deep vein thrombosis. In a further twelve patients undergoing head and neck operations the ankle was used as a drip site and seven of these patients developed thrombosis in that leg.