Incidence and risk factors for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus after liver transplantation

Valerie Emuakhagbon, Prejesh Philips, Vatche Agopian, Fady M. Kaldas, Christopher M. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Omitting chemical venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in liver transplant recipients may lead to an increase incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolus (PE). Methods A retrospective comparison of liver transplant recipients who developed postoperative DVT/PE to an age-matched population. Results Forty-three of eight hundred sixty-seven patients developed a DVT/PE. Study group patients received higher amounts of cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma. Study group international normalized ratio (INR) was significantly higher, as was the incidence of postoperative complications. High-grade complication rates (bleeding, respiratory failure, and renal insufficiency) were increased in the study group at 16% vs 0%. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that the rate of DVT/PE after liver transplantation is similar to the rate after other major operations. Patients were more likely to develop DVT/PE if they received increased amounts of intraoperative cryoprecipitate/fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or had an elevated postoperative INR. Furthermore, patients with a complicated postoperative course have the highest risk of venous thromboembolism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)768-771
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican journal of surgery
Volume211
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2016

Keywords

  • Anticoagulation
  • DVT
  • Liver transplantation
  • PE

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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