This retrospective cohort study investigates anticoagulant dosing adjustments after major limb amputation, indicating a need for routine weight monitoring.
Key Points
The study aims to evaluate how postoperative weight loss impacts anticoagulant dosing after major lower limb amputation.
Conducted a single-centre retrospective cohort study.
Included patients who underwent above- or below-knee amputation from July 2022 to January 2023.
Required documented pre- and postoperative weights and inpatient prescription of anticoagulants.
Reviewed anticoagulant doses against weight-based recommendations.
Among 39 patients, 17 met inclusion criteria.
Mean postoperative weight loss was 7.5% of preoperative body weight.
Above-knee amputation patients lost more weight than below-knee patients.
Only 11.8% of patients required dose adjustments for anticoagulants.