Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis Following Different Types of Major Surgeries

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major postoperative complication with potentially catastrophic sequela of life-threatening pulmonary embolism. Major surgeries, especially those that require a long period of immobility and tissue damage, pose a high risk of DVT. It is also important to determine how it occurs in various surgical units so that countermeasures can be implemented. Aim: This study aimed to determine the incidence of DVT following major surgeries in the General Surgery and Gynecological Surgery departments at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals (SGTH), Swat. Methodology: A descriptive observational study was carried out on 270 adult patients undergoing major elective or emergency surgery. A structured checklist and clinical assessment were used to collect data. Suspected DVT cases were confirmed via Doppler ultrasound. We used a statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), version 27, to analyze data and applied descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: The overall incidence of DVT was 10.4%. The occurrence of DVT was higher with General (12.5%) and lower with Gynecological (7.3%) Surgery. There was a significant correlation between the type of surgery and the incidence of DVT (p = 0.033). Conclusion: Among major surgeries, DVT is a significant postoperative complication, particularly in general surgery patients. It can be reduced by strengthening thromboprophylaxis practices and maximizing early mobilization.