Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Patients Undergoing Major Urological Surgery

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in patients undergoing majör urologic surgery. Materials and Methods: Data of patients who underwent major urological surgery between January 2018 and October 2023 were analyzed. Intraoperative age, body mass index, and comorbidities were recorded. All patients received prophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin and graduated compression stockings starting in the preoperative period until mobilization in the postoperative period. The patients' historical data were reviewed, and the development of venous thromboembolism in the one-month postoperative period was investigated. Results: Nephrectomy was performed in 156 patients (45.2%), radical prostatectomy in 142 patients (41.2%), partial nephrectomy in 28 patients (8.1%), and radical cystectomy in 19 patients (5.5%). The mean age at the time of operation was 66.06±9.43 years, and the body mass index was 27.06±4.22. Hypertension was found in 51.6%, diabetes mellitus in 26.1%, coronary artery disease in 13.9%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 8.1%, atrial fibrillation in 2.1%, and valvular heart disease in 1.2%. In the postoperative period, two patients developed pulmonary embolism, and one patient developed deep vein thrombosis. One of the patients with pulmonary embolism had undergone radical prostatectomy, and the other patients had undergone radical cystectomy. There was no mortality after treatment. Conclusion: Venous thromboembolism is highly preventable when appropriate precautions and prophylaxis are taken. In our study, the incidence of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis was similar to the literature.