Risk of deep venous thrombosis in abdomino pelvic surgeries.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and associated risk factors of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) among patients undergoing abdomino-pelvic surgeries and to evaluate their risk stratification according to the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines. Study Design: Descriptive Case Series. Setting: Surgical Unit, Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), Peshawar, Pakistan. Period: 1^st July 2021 to 31^st December 2021. Methods: A total of 174 hospitalized patients aged 15–70 years with duplex ultrasound–confirmed lower limb DVT were enrolled through consecutive convenience sampling. Patients with chronic or ambiguous DVT findings were excluded. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, mobility, hospital stay, and surgical details were recorded. Risk stratification was performed as per ACCP guidelines into low, moderate, high, and very high-risk groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, applying chi-square tests for associations, with p ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among 174 patients, the majority were males (62.1%) with a predominant age group of 41–50 years. High and very high-risk categories accounted for 40.8% and 37.4% of patients, respectively. Obesity (33.3%), limited mobility (72.4%), and comorbidities (66.1%) were the most significant risk factors. Statistical analysis revealed strong associations between DVT risk level and age (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.001), comorbidities (p < 0.001), and mobility status (p < 0.001). Most patients (72.4%) had a hospital stay of ≤7 days, and 89.1% underwent surgeries lasting ≤1 hour. Conclusion: DVT risk in abdomino-pelvic surgical patients is strongly associated with age, obesity, immobility, comorbidities, and prolonged hospitalization. Regular risk assessment and adherence to thromboprophylactic guidelines are essential to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality.