The Risk of Venous Thromboembolism With Thyroid Surgery

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess preoperative risk of venous thromboembolism in thyroid surgery candidates and evaluate postoperative outcomes. This study was conducted on 116 consecutive patients between 2007 and 2008. The patients were classified by a Caprini venous thromboembolism risk assessment form in the preoperative period. The lower extremities of the patients were evaluated for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), by the same radiologist using color Doppler duplex ultrasonography, on preoperative day 1 and postoperative days 12 to 14. Venous diameter, venous wall response to compression, echogenity, thrombus within the lumen, loss of flow, and spectral wave changes were evaluated. Fifteen of the 116 patients withdrew from the study. The mortality rate was zero throughout the entire study. Eighty-seven (75.2%) patients were female and 29 patients (24.8%) were male. The mean age was 46.5 years (19-73 years). There were 18 patients in the "very high risk" group, 74 patients in the "high risk" group, and 24 patients in the "moderate risk" group in preoperative assessment. None of the patients had asymptomatic DVT preoperatively. All patients underwent thyroidectomy, and the average duration of hospitalization was 2.5 days (2 6 days). One (0.9%) patient with a risk score of 6 was diagnosed with asymptomatic DVT in the postoperative period with increased lumen diameter of the popliteal vein, thrombus, and lack of color flow in ultrasonography examination. Thyroid surgery may be a risk factor for developing DVT. In daily clinical practice, risk assessment should be done precisely to prevent venous thromboembolic events preoperatively in thyroid surgery.