Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

There is considerable uncertainty related to the thromboembolic risk after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), or venous thromboembolism (VTE) at hospital discharge following laparoscopic cholecystectomy were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. From 1998 through 2009, 4 107 430 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. The in-hospital prevalence of PE was 0.15%, DVT was 0.40%, and VTE was 0.53%. The prevalence of PE increased from 0.04% in patients aged 21 to 30 years to 0.31% in patients aged 71 to 80 years. Deaths due to in-hospital PE were 780 (0.02%) of the 4 107 430 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. The rate of death increased with age. The prevalence of VTE following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is low and fatal PE is rare. The risk of VTE increased with age, as did the risk of death in those who had PE. These data may be useful in assessing the use of thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.