Incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism in gastric cancer surgery using routine thromboprophylaxis

There is a lack of published data on the incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) after resections for gastric cancer. We report the incidence of PTE after gastric cancer surgery with routine thromboprophylaxis from a high-volume center.

Between October 2002 and December 2008, 3262 patients underwent gastric cancer surgery with routine thromboprophylaxis using low-dose unfractionated heparin, intermittent pneumatic compression, fluid infusion, and graduated compression stockings. Patients diagnosed with PTE were identified from a prospectively collected database that included complications related to thromboprophylaxis.

Seven patients (0.2%) developed symptomatic PTE in this series. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that female sex (P = 0.029) and high body mass index (P = 0.025) were significant risk factors for PTE. The most common symptom was dyspnea (57%). Five patients (71%) developed PTE by the second postoperative day. All patients were treated successfully with medical treatment and no hospital deaths were recorded. Adverse events related to thromboprophylaxis included major postoperative bleeding in 10 (0.3%) of the 3262 patients. There were no cases of hematoma related to the insertion of epidural catheters for analgesia.

The routine use of thromboprophylaxis in Japanese patients undergoing gastric resection is safe and effective in reducing the incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism.