[Clinical incidence of thromboembolism in neurosurgery]

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are known complications in neurosurgical patients, but prophylactic treatment is not commonly used in neurosurgical units. However the incidence of thromboembolism is comparable to general surgical patients, when reliable tests are applied. This retrospective study examines the clinical incidence of thromboembolism in 1378 neurosurgical patients. A thromboembolic complication is found in 2.6% of the patients, 1.4% of them shows pulmonary embolism. Clinical incidence seems to be small, but adjustment of heparin treatment is always difficult in neurosurgical patients and it is often insufficient. Partial inferior vena cava interruption is indicated in nearly half of the patients. Prospective studies are necessary to appreciate the incidence of deep vein thrombosis in neurosurgical patients with a reliable test. The efficiency and security of the prophylactic methods must be evaluated.