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Aspirin could be suitable, effective VTE prophylaxis after orthopedic oncologic surgery
Use of aspirin postoperatively in patients treated with orthopedic oncology surgery may be suitable and effective for venous thromboembolic chemoprophylaxis, according to results published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Researchers analyzed demographic information, histopathologic diagnosis, VTE history, surgical procedure and VTE prophylaxis in 130 patients who underwent 142 procedures for primary malignant soft-tissue or bone tumor, or metastatic carcinoma. Researchers also recorded and compared overall and prophylactic-specific rates of VTE.
Results showed VTE prophylaxis with aspirin was used after 103 procedures. Non-aspirin prophylaxis was used in 39 procedures. Imaging was used to investigate for VTE in 33 cases. Of the 142 procedures, 4.9% developed VTE. Of these cases, there were six deep venous thromboses and one pulmonary embolism. Two patients who developed VTE had a history of VTE. Researchers found 2.9% of the 103 aspirin cases and 10.3% of the 39 non-aspirin cases developed VTE. VTE did not develop in patients in the aspirin group who had been diagnosed with metastatic carcinoma, malignant soft-tissue sarcoma, lymphoma or multiple myeloma. Researchers identified diabetes mellitus, a history of VTE, postoperative transfusion and estimated blood losses of 250 mL, 500 mL and 1,000 mL as risk factors for VTE development. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.