Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T07:50:47.118Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in head and neck surgery: the practice of otolaryngologists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

K. W. Ah-See ,
J. Kerr  and
D. W. Sim
K. W. Ah-See*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
J. Kerr
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
D. W. Sim
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr K. W. Ah-See, Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospital, Greenbank Drive, Edinburgh EH1O 5SB. Fax: 0131-536-6167.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the surgical patient. The first guideline produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network was for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism. Patients undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery commonly exhibit risk factors for venous thromboembolism. Currently, however, there are no data on its incidence in these patients. A questionnaire survey was performed to assess the current practice of consultant otolaryngologists regarding DVT prophylaxis in patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery. Of those respondents who managed these patients, 57 per cent did not use routine DVT prophylaxis while 43 per cent did. A wide variety of techniques were employed among those practising DVT prophylaxis.

A consensus is needed concerning the use of thromboembolism prophylaxis in head and neck surgery patients.

Keywords

Deep venous thrombosisPulmonary embolismHead and neck neoplasms
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 9 , September 1997 , pp. 845 - 849
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Clagett, G. P., Reisch, I. S. (1988) Prevention of thromboembolism in general surgical patients: results of a metaanalysis. Annals of Surgery 208: 227–240.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cochrane Collaboration, The UK Cochrane Centre, NHS R&D Programme, Middle Way, Oxford 0X2 7LG.Google Scholar
Colditz, G. A., Tuden, R. L., Osler, G. (1986) Rates of venous thrombosis after general surgery: combined results of randomised clinical trials. Lancet 2: 143–146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Das, S. K. (1994) Venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Surgery 12(10): 217–223.Google Scholar
Dawes, P. J. D. (1997) Thromboembolic prophylaxis and ENT surgery (Editorial). Clinical Otolaryngology 22: 1–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moms, G. K. (1980) Prevention of venous thromboembolism: a survey of methods used by orthopaedic and general surgeons. Lancet 2: 572–574.Google Scholar
SIGN: Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism. (1995) Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Verstraete, M. (1997) Prophylaxis venous thromboembolism. British Medical Journal 314: 123–125.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weinmann, E. E., Salzman, E. W. (1994) Deep-vein throm bosis. New England Journal of Medicine 24(331): 1630–1641.CrossRefGoogle Scholar