[Screening of Deep Vein Thrombosis Prior to Surgery Using D-dimer Testing and Venous Ultrasonography of Lower Extremities].

Deep vein thrombus (DVT) in a patient awaiting surgery is a considerable source of pulmonary embolisms (PEs) during the surgical period, but screening for DVTs has not been emphasized. This retrospective study was conducted to identify factors associated with a positive D-dimer result and DVT diagnosis in order to evaluate the usefulness of DVT screening for patients awaiting surgery. A total of 1,061 patients (872 males, 189 females) underwent D-dimer testing prior to urological surgery at Tsukuba University Hospital between April 2013 and March 2016. Factors associated with a positive D-dimer result and DVT diagnosis were determined by a univariate analysis. Among the 75 patients with a positive Ddimer result, venousultras onography of the lower extremitieswasperformed in 69 patientsand DVT was diagnosed in 14 patients. The overall true-positive rate of D-dimer was 20. 3% (14/69), and it was significantly higher in the females (males11.3% vsfemales50% ; p＝0.0021). Age, body mass index and Ddimer value were not associated with the true-positive D-dimer result. Among the 1,061 patients, DVT was significantly more likely to be diagnosed in elderly patients (median age 73.5 vs 67 yrs, p＝0.0087) and females(males0. 69% vsfemales4. 23% ; p＝0. 0010). Among the three patientswith an acute-phase thrombus, two postponed surgery and required anti-thrombus therapy, and the other patient underwent the implantation of an inferior vena cava filter in order to undergo surgery on schedule. No PE occurred during the surgical period. These results indicate that DVT screening for patients awaiting surgery is useful and should be considered as part of the prevention of PEs during the surgical period.