Key result
Head and neck cancer surgery without routine chemoprophylaxis carries a 13% 30-day VTE incidence.
Why the study?
Little data exist on the incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer.
Population
100 consecutive patients with head and neck cancer undergoing surgery at a tertiary care academic center
Comparison
No routine chemoprophylaxis with clinical and duplex ultrasonographic evaluation vs no anticoagulation
Design
Prospective cohort study
Follow-up
30 days
Authors
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Substantial VTE risk without prophylaxis; hypothesis-generating for chemoprophylaxis trials and should not yet change practice.
Cohort (n=100)
No
Hospitalized patients with head and neck cancer not routinely receiving anticoagulation therapy after surgery have a 13% incidence of VTE within 30 days, highlighting an increased risk.
Clayburgh et al. (2013) conducted a cohort in Head and neck cancer (n=100). Surgery for head and neck cancer was evaluated on Total number of new cases of VTE (superficial and deep) identified within 30 days of surgery and confirmed on diagnostic imaging. In patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer without routine chemoprophylaxis, the overall incidence of VTE within 30 days was 13%.