Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and its associated risk factors in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 590 consecutive adult patients who underwent neurosurgery in

Firoozgar

Hospital between March 2006 and 2010 were enrolled. All patients underwent Doppler sonography examination of the lower limbs to establish the presence of DVT when they were about to be discharged. Then all risk factors were assessed in patients. Data was analyzed using Chi square, Fisher's exact test and Independent samples t-test. SPSS V.16.0 was also used.

Results: The frequency of DVT in neurosurgery ward was 20.41% (with 95% confidence interval from 17.14% to 23.68%). The frequency of patients with age>40, malignant brain and spinal tumors, history of DVT, cigarette smoking, OCP consumption or pregnancy, heart failure and those with signs of DVT were significantly higher in patients with DVT. Also the mean of BMI, duration of surgery and complete best rest was significantly higher in DVT group.

Conclusion: The overall frequency of postoperative DVT in our population was not significantly different from the best results of other studies and the high-risk groups were similar. Most of them were subclinical and potentially life-threatening. Considering the high frequency of DVT among these patients, it seems that assessing patients with one or more risk factors by Doppler sonography would be beneficial to promptly find and treat the condition.