Incidence of postsurgical pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis: a single-center retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a risk factor for perioperative deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE). However, there is a paucity of data on non-malignant digestive diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of DVT/PE among patients, following surgery for acute appendicitis and other digestive diseases. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent surgical procedures involving the digestive system between April 2018 and March 2019 attended by anesthesiologists (n = 536). RESULTS: DVT/PE developed in seven patients (7/77, 9.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7–17.8%) after surgery for acute appendicitis, and in six patients (6/83, 7.2%, 95%CI 2.7–15.1%) after elective surgery for colorectal cancer. Among the acute appendicitis group, six patients (6/30 20.0%) with complicated appendicitis (gangrenous or perforated appendicitis), and one patient (1/47 2.1%) with simple appendicitis showed postoperative DVT/PE. Patients with complicated appendicitis had a higher risk of DVT/PE than those with simple appendicitis with an odds ratio of 11.5 (95%CI 1.3–101.1). CONCLUSIONS: Although patients with acute appendicitis lack three of the risk factors for DVT/PE (cancer, long operative time, and older age), their 95% CI for the incidence of DVT/PE was comparable to that of patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer. Therefore, caution must be exercised during the perioperative period for preventing DVT/PE.