Postoperative deep-vein thrombosis in Asian patients is not a rarity: a prospective study of 88 patients with no prophylaxis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-1996
Abstract
Postoperative deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is believed to be rare in Asians. We studied 88 consecutive patients in Malaysia who had operations for fracture of the proximal femur or for total hip or knee replacement. No patient had prophylaxis against DVT; bilateral ascending venography was performed between six and ten days after operation. A total of 55 patients (62.5%) showed venographic evidence of DVT. The prevalence was greatest after total knee replacement (76.5%), less after total hip replacement (64.3%) and smallest in the fracture group (50%). One patient developed symptomatic pulmonary embolism. In contrast to other reports from Asia, we found an incidence of postoperative DVT which is similar to that reported in Western populations. This suggests that the present practice of withholding routine prophylaxis against thromboembolism in Asian patients undergoing high-risk orthopaedic procedures should be reconsidered.
Keywords
Aged, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, Female
Publication Title
The Bone & Joint Journal
Volume
78
Issue
3
Publisher
The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery
Additional Information
University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur