Post-spinal surgery ultrasound aids VTE management

Post-spinal surgery ultrasound aids VTE management
Perioperative ultrasonography is important for proper management of venous thromboembolism, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of Spine.

(HealthDay)—Perioperative ultrasonography is important for proper management of venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a study published in the May 1 issue of Spine.

Koji Akeda, M.D., Ph.D., from the Mie University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, and colleagues conducted prospective follow-up on 209 undergoing spinal surgery (121 males, 88 females; average age, 64 years) who had ultrasonographic assessments of both legs before and after surgery. For primary VTE prophylaxis, a pneumatic sequential compression device and standard compression stockings were used. Pharmacological agents were not used for VTE prophylaxis unless a distal type (DVT) was found preoperatively.

The researchers found that 23 patients (11.0 percent) showed VTE in the spinal surgery perioperative period. Before surgery, nine patients (4.3 percent) had VTE (pulmonary embolism [PE] with proximal DVT, one; distal DVT, eight). New-onset VTE developed in 14 patients (6.7 percent; two PE with proximal DVT; 12 distal DVT) after spinal surgery. Two patients developed new-onset PE with proximal DVT after surgery. DVT disappeared (based on follow-up ultrasonography) completely in 85 percent of patients with a distal type DVT (17 of 20).

"DVT assessment using ultrasonography is important for proper management of VTE during the perioperative period of , especially for high-risk patients, such as those with advanced age or neurological deficit," the authors write.

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Journal information: Spine

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Citation: Post-spinal surgery ultrasound aids VTE management (2014, May 16) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-05-post-spinal-surgery-ultrasound-aids-vte.html
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