Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in General Surgery at Gabriel Touré University Hospital in Mali

Abstract

Through its impact on morbidity and mortality and the cost of medical care, Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) has a significant influence on the quality of care in a surgical environment. The objectives were to determine the risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism and to assess its prophylactic management in the general surgery department of Gabriel Toure University Hospital. This was a prospective observational study from May 01, 2018 to December 31, 2018. It included all patients of 18 years old and over, operated in regulated surgery, under general anesthesia in the department. For all of these patients, Caprini score was used to assess the risk of VTE. The ninth American College of Chest Physicians’ Consensus was used as guidelines to assess Thromboprophylaxis practices in the ward. The Caprini score was evaluated in 80 patients for 8 months. The average age was 50.2 years. The sex ratio was 0.48. The risk level of VTE was low in three patients (3.8%), moderate in 13 patients (16.3%), high in 34 patients (42.5%) and highest in 30 patients (37.5%). The main risk factors found were major surgery (87.5%), age > 40 years (72.5%), cancer (33.8%), bed rest (31.2%), obesity (27.5%) and minor surgery (12.5%). Early mobilization was performed in all patients. Pharmacologic prophylaxis was required in 80% of our patients but only 38.8% had received low molecular weight heparin. VTE complicated 5 procedures, including 3 cases of deep vein thrombosis of the limbs and 2 cases of pulmonary embolism who died. Venous thromboembolism is serious and common in surgical settings. Its prevention remains insufficient in our context.