A Study on Screening for Deep Vein Thrombosis in Post Operative Patients

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a significant post-operative complication leads to severe outcomes, including pulmonary embolism, which is often fatal. Several researches indicate that the prevalence of DVT varies geographically, with a comparatively lower prevalence among Asian populations compared to Western counterparts. Risk factors for DVT include malignancy, pregnancy, prolonged immobilization, and endothelial damage arising due to surgical interventions. This study aims to investigate the incidence of DVT in post-operative participants undergoing major abdominal surgeries and evaluate the associated risk factors so as to highlight the importance of timely prophylaxis and screening. Methods: This crosssectional study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital, among a total of 100 participants who underwent elective or emergency major abdominal surgeries for a time duration of minimum half an hour. A structure study proforma was used as a study tool, and the primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of DVT in the lower limbs, assessed using bilateral lower limb Doppler ultrasonography on postoperative days 3 and 5. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: Our study observed that 21% of participants developed DVT, with the highest occurrence among those with pregnancy-related complications (100%), followed by trauma/injury (22.22%), and gastrointestinal perforations (19.04%). The duration of surgery was directly proportional to DVT occurrence. Additionally, none of the participants who received prophylactic low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) developed DVT. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant incidence of DVT in major abdominal surgery procedures, emphasizing the importance of early identification and preventive measures, particularly among high-risk subgroups. Routine DVT prophylaxis and targeted interventions to improve surgical outcomes and patient safety are to be considered in major abdominal surgeries.