Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment in Inpatient and Ambulatory Otolaryngology Surgical Patients

Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are a leading cause of postoperative morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, and increased cost. Recommendations for mechano- and chemoprophylaxis are currently based on the 2005 Caprini score, a screening tool developed to identify patients at risk for VTE. The Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) was designed for surgical impatients and has been tested in a number of surgical fields, including otolaryngology. However, the vast majority of otolaryngology cases are performed as ambulatory surgery. Simpler RAMs include the COBRA scoring system and Pannucci-NSQIP. Here, we evaluate risk stratification of otolaryngology surgical patients and correlate the findings of these three RAMs.

Retrospective chart review.

A retrospective chart review of 869 patients undergoing surgery by Weill Cornell faculty otolaryngologists between June and December 2022 was performed. Patient demographics, VTE risk factors, admission status, surgical subservice, and postoperative events were collected, and RAM scores were calculated for each patient. Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum tests were utilized to assess differences in VTE risk scores based on type of procedure and admission status, and Spearman's correlation was utilized to assess agreement between the three different scoring systems. Multivariate linear regressions were utilized to assess variables that impacted the Caprini, COBRA, and NSQIP RAMs.

In total, two patients developed postoperative venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, there is a strong positive correlation between Caprini and COBRA RAMs (even when broken down by admission status, although it weakens in the inpatient population). There is a moderate positive correlation between Caprini and Pannucci-NSQIP in the full cohort, but that correlation is lost in the inpatient population.

Otolaryngology surgical patients are at low risk of postoperative VTE. Caprini, Pannucci-NSQIP, and COBRA RAMs correlate well in determining ambulatory patients at risk for postoperative VTE and shorter, simpler RAMS such as COBRA and Pannucci-NSQIP can be used instead of Caprini RAM.

3 Laryngoscope, 135:1359-1366, 2025.