Thrombophilia prevalence in patients seeking laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: extended chemoprophylaxis may decrease...

Portomesenteric vein thrombosis (PMVT) may occur after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Previous studies have shown that PMVT patients may have undiagnosed thrombophilia. We recently changed our practice to check thrombophilia panel in every LSG patient preoperatively.

To estimate the thrombophilia prevalence in patients seeking LSG, and determine if extended chemoprophylaxis post LSG reduces PMVT.

University hospital.

Thrombophilia panels were drawn on every patient seeking LSG after July 2018 at 2 high-volume accredited bariatric surgery centers. A positive panel included factor VIII >150%; protein C <70%; protein S <55%; antithrombin III <83%; and activated protein C resistance <2.13. Patients with a positive panel were discharged on extended chemoprophylaxis. PMVT rates and bleeding occurrences were recorded for LSG patients from August 2018 to March 2019 and were compared with a historic cohort of LSG performed from January 2014 to July 2018.

One thousand seventy-five patients seeking LSG had thrombophilia panel checked preoperatively. The cohort was 83% female; mean age and body mass index were 39.2 years and 43 kg/m², respectively. Of the cohort, 52.4% (563/1075) had positive thrombophilia panel, including factor VIII elevation (91.5%), antithrombin III deficiency (6.0%), protein S deficiency (1.1%), protein C deficiency (.9%), and activated protein C resistance (.5%). Between January 2014 and July 2018, 13 PMVT were diagnosed among 4228 LSG (.3%) and there were 17 bleeding occurrences (.4%). After August 2018, one PMVT was diagnosed among 745 LSG (.1%) and there were 5 bleeding occurrences (.6%).

The estimated thrombophilia prevalence in patients seeking LSG is 52.4%. The majority (91.5%) of these patients have factor VIII elevation. Extended prophylaxis may decrease PMVT postLSG.