A clinically significant reduction in symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) was associated with implementation of a perioperative VTE prophylaxis, according to a cohort study of 527 patients undergoing major surgery over a 30-month interval. The study also determined that preoperative single-dose unfractionated heparin for all patients, combined with 2 weeks of thromboprophylaxis in gynecologic cancer patients, may decrease VTE events without increasing bleeding or infection. Study details included:

• Postintervention, there were 5 VTE events (2.7%); 3 deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 2 pulmonary emboli (PEs), [RR=0.4], compared to 8 DVTs and 15 PEs preintervention.

• Time-to-event analysis showed a significantly higher incidence of VTE events in the preintervention time frame compared to the postintervention period.

• No significant differences in bleeding or infection complications were found between groups.

Citation: Corr BR, Winter AM, Sammel MD, Chu CS, Gage BF, Hagemann AR. Effectiveness and safety of expanded perioperative thromboprophylaxis in complex gynecologic surgery. Gynecol Oncol. 2015;138(3):501-506. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.07.017.