Systematic review and meta-analysis on the rate of postoperative venous thromboembolism in orthopaedic surgery in Asian patients without thromboprophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common life-threatening complication after surgery. This review analysed the rate and mortality of VTE after orthopaedic surgery in Asia. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were: prospective study; deep vein thrombosis (DVT) diagnosed by venography or ultrasonography; hip fracture surgery (HFS), total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA); and no thromboprophylaxis. The pooled proportion was back-calculated by Freeman-Tukey variant transformation, using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies (total population 2454) published from 1979 to 2009 were included. Using venography, the pooled rates of all-site, proximal, distal and isolated distal DVT were 31·7, 8·9, 22·5 and 18·8 per cent respectively. With duplex ultrasonography, the respective rates were 9·4, 5·9, 5·9 and 5·8 per cent. After THA or HFS, using venography, the pooled rates of all-site and proximal DVT were 25·8 and 9·6 per cent; with ultrasonography, the respective rates were 10·8 and 7·2 per cent. In TKA groups, using venography, the pooled rates of all-site and proximal DVT were 42·5 and 8·7 per cent; with ultrasonography, the respective rates were 9·5 and 5·2 per cent. The overall pooled rates of symptomatic DVT and symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) were 4·5 and 0·6 per cent. No patient died from PE (pooled rate 0·2 per cent). CONCLUSION: None of these Asian patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery died from VTE. Pooled rates of proximal and symptomatic DVT were lower than in Western reports.

Clinical presentation and patterns of venous reflux in Thai patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

OBJECTIVE: To study the extent of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in Thai patients by assessing venous clinical severity scores (VCSSs), venous disability scores (VDSs) and prevalence of lower limb venous reflux in a cohort of patients attending a vascular surgery clinic. DESIGN: Prospective comparative cohort study. MATERIAL: All patients presenting with CVI (Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy and Pathophysiology (CEAP) C4-6) in our vascular surgery clinic between October 2006 and December 2008 were enrolled and compared with the same number of control patients. METHOD: A standardised interview was conducted to document each patient's history of venous disease, VCSS and VDS. Duplex ultrasonography of selected superficial and deep veins was performed. RESULTS: There were 41 patients, mean age 58 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.7. Of 58 limbs, 35%, 19% and 47% were of CEAP clinical stages C4, C5 and C6, respectively. Previous deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was reported by 7% and major leg trauma by 9% of patients. The mean VCSS was 9.7 and mean VDS was 1.0. VDS 2 or 3 were found in 10% of patients. The VCSS 2 and 3 for pain, oedema and inflammation were found in 22%, 26% and 0% of C6 legs. The prevalence of combined superficial and deep vein reflux was 71%. The prevalence of isolated superficial and deep vein reflux were 8% and 17%, respectively. One patient had iliac vein occlusion. Compared with the control group, risk factors that were found to be significant were physical findings of varicose veins, history of leg trauma, standing posture and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Thai patients with CVI were relatively young. Visible varicose veins, pain, oedema and inflammation were uncommon and most patients could maintain their usual activities despite advanced venous disease. An association with obesity was not common. Despite a low prevalence of a history of previous DVT, the prevalence of deep vein reflux was high and commonly combined with superficial venous reflux.