Amihai Rottenstreich1, Ram Elazary2, Jonathan B Yuval2, Galia Spectre3, Geffen Kleinstern4, Yosef Kalish5. 1. Hematology Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. 2. Surgery Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. 3. Institute of Hematology, Coagulation Unit, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. 4. Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University and Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. 5. Hematology Department, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: ykalish@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is associated with increased thromboembolic risk, which may extend well beyond hospital stay. The hemostatic mechanisms implicated in this risk are not well established. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the dynamics of hemostatic changes and procoagulant potential among patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, during both the early and late postoperative periods. SETTING: A university hospital. METHODS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were recruited consecutively to this study. Blood samples were taken preoperatively, before discharge (postoperative day [POD] 3), and at the first follow-up visit (POD10). All samples were tested for complete blood count, C-reactive protein, von Willebrand factor, factor VIII, fibrinogen, and thrombin generation. RESULTS: The median preoperative body mass index of the 26 participants was 41.3 (38.7-43.3) kg/m2. Compared with preoperative evaluation, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor antigen and activity, and factor VIII levels were significantly higher at POD3 and POD10 (P<.0001 for all comparisons). Peak thrombin levels and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) were higher at POD3 (P = .005 for both comparisons) and POD10 (P = .0009 and<.0001) compared with baseline. ETP and peak thrombin, as well as fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and factor VIII levels, were comparable between POD3 and POD10. Multivariate analysis showed that the only predictor of postoperative ETP was the preoperative ETP level (β = .55, P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: As determined by thrombin generation, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was associated with hypercoagulability, which persisted during POD10. This finding suggests a possible benefit of extended thromboprophylaxis. Nevertheless, our results should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of a control group.
BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is associated with increased thromboembolic risk, which may extend well beyond hospital stay. The hemostatic mechanisms implicated in this risk are not well established. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the dynamics of hemostatic changes and procoagulant potential among patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, during both the early and late postoperative periods. SETTING: A university hospital. METHODS:Patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy were recruited consecutively to this study. Blood samples were taken preoperatively, before discharge (postoperative day [POD] 3), and at the first follow-up visit (POD10). All samples were tested for complete blood count, C-reactive protein, von Willebrand factor, factor VIII, fibrinogen, and thrombin generation. RESULTS: The median preoperative body mass index of the 26 participants was 41.3 (38.7-43.3) kg/m2. Compared with preoperative evaluation, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor antigen and activity, and factor VIII levels were significantly higher at POD3 and POD10 (P<.0001 for all comparisons). Peak thrombin levels and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) were higher at POD3 (P = .005 for both comparisons) and POD10 (P = .0009 and<.0001) compared with baseline. ETP and peak thrombin, as well as fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, and factor VIII levels, were comparable between POD3 and POD10. Multivariate analysis showed that the only predictor of postoperative ETP was the preoperative ETP level (β = .55, P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: As determined by thrombin generation, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was associated with hypercoagulability, which persisted during POD10. This finding suggests a possible benefit of extended thromboprophylaxis. Nevertheless, our results should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of a control group.