Incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in neurosurgical patients after implementing a screening protocol; a retrospective cohort study of a tertiary center

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in neurosurgical procedures both before and after surgery. To examine the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in neurosurgical patients before surgery and in the postoperative period after implementing a VTE prophylaxis protocol. We also aimed to determine VTE risk factors. We conducted a retrospective cohort study examining 200 patients admitted to the hospital for cranial and spine neurosurgical procedures between January 2020 and October 2021. All patients were screened for VTE using a protocol combining measurement of D-dimer level and venous duplex ultrasonography. Patients who screened negative for VTE were evaluated for VTE risk using the Caprini risk assessment model; those with Caprini score ≥3 (indicating moderate-to-high risk) received VTE prophylaxis using intermittent pneumatic compression devices. Preoperative screening demonstrated DVT in seven of 200 patients (3.5%). All DVTs were asymptomatic and proximal in location. Univariate logistic regression showed that stroke, neurodegenerative disease, and confinement to bed for more than 72 hours were significant predictors of preoperative DVT. Among the patients without DVT on preoperative screening, 179 (93%) had a Caprini score ≥3; intermittent pneumatic compression was used for prophylaxis in 173 of these (96.6%). Incidence of postoperative VTE was 2.6% (5/193). Extended length of hospital stay, postoperative hydrocephalus, and infection were significant risk factors for VTE. Preoperative VTE screening using D-dimer level and V-DUS and implementation of VTE prophylaxis using IPC can reduce the incidence of VTE and VTE-related mortality in neurosurgical patients.