CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2020; 55(04): 426-431
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1698798
Artigos Originais
Joelho

Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Protocol: Experience of 2,000 Cases in Total Knee Arthroplasty*

Article in several languages: português | English
Lúcio Honório de Carvalho Júnior
1   Grupo de Joelho, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Hospital Madre Teresa, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
2   Departamento de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
,
Matheus de Almeida Correa
1   Grupo de Joelho, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Hospital Madre Teresa, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
,
Matheus Rezende Lima
2   Departamento de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
,
Camila Barreto Silvestre
2   Departamento de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
,
Victor Ferreira Almeida
2   Departamento de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
,
1   Grupo de Joelho, Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia, Hospital Madre Teresa, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
2   Departamento de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
› Author Affiliations
 

Abstract

Objective The objective of the present study is to evaluate the impact evaluate the impact of an institutional protocol on a tertiary hospital for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in 2005 patients submitted to primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods Data from medical records of patients submitted TKA before (n = 1,115) and after (n = 890) the implementation of the institutional protocol, totaling 2,005 patients, were retrospectively reported. Demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were analyzed.

Results There was no significant change in the cases of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (1.6% versus 2.4%; p = 0.211). There was an increase in cases of pulmonary embolism (PE) (0.2% versus 0.8% p = 0.049).

Conclusion Despite the implementation of the prevention protocol, no reduction in the studied events was observed. The small global incidence makes further studies with larger series necessary to confirm or rule out these findings.


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Introduction

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most realized orthopedic procedures worldwide.[1] [2] More than 600.000 of these surgeries are performed annually in the USA.[1] Different complications were described, and one of the most feared is venous thromboembolism (VTEs): deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).[2]

Without prophylaxis, DVT, symptomatic or not, could be detected in 41 to 84% of the image exams.[3] Pulmonary embolism is not that common, with incidences varying between 1.5 and 10%, but with mortality rates between 0.1 and 1.7%.[4] Many risk factors were described: age > 60 years old, obesity, use of oral contraceptives, hormonal reposition therapy, bowel inflammatory disease, personal or family history of DVT or PE, and long tourniquet time.[5]

Basically, there are mechanical and pharmacological methods to prevent PE and DVT. Up to 2015, many of them were used for prevention after TKA at our institution. After that, an institutional prevention protocol was initiated to standardize its prevention. We hypothesize that after the implementation of the protocol, smaller numbers of DVTs and PEs may be found. The objective of the present study is to verify if this new standardized protocol interfered in the incidence of VTEs after primary TKA.


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Material and Methods

Data from patients submitted to primary TKA between January 2011 and December 2017 were retrospectively collected from our institution database, totalizing 2,005 patients. The present study was approved by the ethical committee of the institution. An informed signed consent was obtained before the study. No financial incentive was offered to any participant. Every primary TKA patient was included. The exclusion criteria were another surgical procedure together with TKA, and associated infectious disease.

Every patient was operated on by the same surgical team, with pneumatic tourniquet, through the anterior approach and with medial parapatelar arthrotomy. Every TKA was with sacrifice of the posterior cruciate ligament, and both components were cemented at the same time. A patellar component was not used. Up to December 2014, there was not a standard protocol regarding VTE prophylaxis, either pharmacological or mechanical, inside or outside the institution. The prevention was performed according to the guidance provided by each surgeon to the patient. Starting in January, 2015, the Hospital Madre Teresa standardized a clinical protocol to deal with VET prevention ([Fig. 1]). In this protocol, every patient received 40 mg of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) subcutaneously starting 6 hours after the end of the surgery, and continuously every 24 hours up to the hospital discharge. In this occasion, oral anticoagulants (factor Xa inhibitors) were initiated for up to 14 days postoperatively. The same dose of LMWH was used every 12 hours if the body mass index (BMI) of the patient was > 30. Among the mechanical measures, full-weight bearing with a walker was initiated in the first postoperative day after peripheral nerve recovery, or after release from the intensive care unit. The average length of stay in the hospital was 54 hours. Home rehabilitation, as well as ambulatory physiotherapy facilities, were prescribed for every patient.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Institutional protocol for venous thromboembolism prevention - Total knee arthroplasty.

The patient data analyzed were gender, age, weight, height, classification according to the American Anesthesiology Association (ASA), presence of diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking habits, time to the first walking, anticoagulant use after discharge, EP or DVT history and their occurrence up to 6 months postoperatively. Only VTE symptomatic cases were analyzed, as well as those who needed any form of treatment. Asymptomatic cases were not studied.

Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed using averages and standard deviation (SD). Categorical data were compared using the chi-squared and the Fisher exact tests. For continuous variables, an evaluation was performed regarding a normal distribution using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The difference between averages was calculated using the parametric Student t-test and, for others, the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. The significance level was set at 0,05. The statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).


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#

Results

A total of 2,005 patients were analyzed. A total of 1,115 patients were part of the group operated before the implementation of the protocol; 275 patients were male (24.7%), and 840 (75.3%) were female. The average age was 72 years old. The average weight was 78.9 kg, and the average height was 1.63 m, with an average BMI of 29.69. A total of 4.8% of the patients were classified as ASA I, 91.4% as ASA II, and 3.8% as ASA III. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 14.9% of the patients, and 60.9% had high blood pressure (HBP). A total of 2.5% of the patients were smokers. Walking training started in up to 24 hours after the surgery in 85.8% of the patients. In this group, 44.1% used anticoagulants up to 2 weeks postoperatively. A history of DVT or of PE was present in 3.8% of the cases. Deep venous thrombosis was detected in 1.6% of the patients, and PE in 0.2%.

A total of 890 patients were part of the group operated after the implementation of the protocol; 233 were male (26.2%), and 657 were female (73.8%). The average age was 72 years old. The average weight was 78.3 kg; the average height was 1.63 m, with an average BMI of 29.47. A total of 9.7% of the patients were classified as ASA I, 83.6% as ASA II, and 6.7% as ASA III. Diabetes mellitus was present in 22.7% of the patients, and 76.9% had HBP. A total of 5.2% of the patients were smokers. Walking training started in up to 24 hours after the surgery in 78% of the patients. In this group, 98% used anticoagulants for up to 2 weeks postoperatively. A history of DVT or of PE was present in 4.8% of the cases. Deep venous thrombosis was detected in 2.4% of the patients, and PE in 0.8%.

Comparing the results between the 2 groups, a statistical difference was found between the ASA classification (p < 0.05). Critical cases (ASA III) were much more frequent after the implementation of the protocol (p < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between patients with DM (p < 0.05), HBP (p < 0.05) and smoking (p < 0.05). After the protocol, these characteristics were more frequent. After the protocol, the time for walking training was significantly delayed (p < 0.05). The use of anticoagulants was also higher (p < 0.05). No difference was found in the DVT numbers (p > 0.05), and the incidence of PE was considered statistically significant (p = 0.049). The results are summarized in [Table 1].

Table 1

Condensed Table

Variable

Category

General (n = 2.0005)

Before 2014 (n = 1.115)

After 2015 (n = 890)

N

%

N

%

N

%

Gender

Male

508

25,3

275

24,7

233

26,2

Female

1,497

74,7

840

75,3

657

73,8

Total

2,005

100,0

1115

100,0

890

100,0

VTE

Yes

9

0,4

2

0,2

7

0,8

No

1,980

98,8

1112

99,7

868

97,5

Not informed

16

0,8

1

0,1

15

1,7

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

DVT

Yes

39

1.9

18

1.6

21

2.4

No

1,950

97.3

1,096

98.3

854

96.0

Not informed

16

0.8

1

0.1

15

1.7

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

Anticoagulants use

Yes

1,364

68.0

492

44.1

872

98.0

No

641

32.0

623

55.9

18

2.0

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

HBP

Yes

1,294

64.5

613

55.0

681

76.5

No

598

29.8

393

35.2

205

23.0

Not informed

113

5.6

109

9.8

4

0.4

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

DM

Yes

368

18.4

166

14.9

202

22.7

No

1,636

81.6

949

85.1

687

77.2

Not informed

1

0.0

0

0.0

1

0.1

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

Smoking

Yes

74

3.7

28

2.5

46

5.2

No

1,931

96.3

1,087

97.5

844

94.8

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

VTE history

Yes

85

4.2

42

3.8

43

4.8

No

1,918

95.7

1,073

96.2

845

94.9

Not informed

2

0.1

0

0.0

2

0.2

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

Walking training

2 hour

2

0.1

2

0.2

0

0.0

24 hour

1,648

82.2

954

85.6

694

78.0

48 hour

316

15.8

141

12.6

175

19.7

72 hour

32

1.6

14

1.3

18

2.0

96 hour

4

0.2

1

0.1

3

0.3

120 hour

3

0.1

3

0.3

0

0.0

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0

ASA

I

100

5.0

14

1.3

86

9.7

II

1,005

50.1

265

23.8

740

83.1

III

70

3.5

11

1.0

59

6.6

Not informed

830

41.4

825

74.0

5

0.6

Total

2,005

100.0

1,115

100.0

890

100.0


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Discussion

The main result of the present study was that, despite the implementation of this protocol, there was no reduction in DVT cases, with an increase in the incidence of PE. We should be aware of the increase in the incidence of comorbidities and of a significant increase in intensive care utilization postoperatively. The delay in walking training could explain the increase in the number of patients with VTE, since the patients are not able to walk during their time in the intensive care unit (ICU). Walking is a proven way to reduce VTE. Chandrasekaran et al[4] reported a 0% incidence in a population that initiated walking training in the first 8 hours postoperatively. Kjaersgaard-Andersen et al[6] described a 25% reduction in VTE when first walking was initiated in up to 24 hours postoperatively.

Several studies observed the important relationship between VTE and TKA. Khokhar et al[3] reported 13% of DVT and 3% of PE. O'Reilly et al[7], using only symptomatic cases, found 0.6 to 5.7% of VTE, with 0.33 to 2.1% of, DVT, and PE between 0 and 1%. Song et al[8] used bilateral phlebography in 109 patients and found symptomatic DVT in 4.6% of the patients, and asymptomatic DVT in 18.3%. Without prevention, DVT could reach 60% in the first 90 postoperative days[9], and the incidence of fatal PE could be 1.5%.[10] In the present study, the general incidence was 2.3% of VTE, with 1.6% and 2.4% of DVT and 0.2% and 0.8% of PE pre- and postimplementation of the protocol, respectively.

Several risk factors were related to VTE. Zhang et al[11] performed a metanalysis and evaluated 1,150,000 patients after total knee and hip replacements. They found as risk factors age > 70 years old, female gender, BMI > 30, black ethnicity, and ASA ≥ 3.[11] Besides several studies that show that the prevention protocol decreases the incidence of VTE, we found an increase in VTE complications after TKA. An explanation would be the increase in the complexity and comorbidities of the patients. In the present study, we found an increase in DM, HBP and smoking, although these are not related to the higher prevalence of VTE. The small number of patients with a previous or family history of VTE could explain the lack of relationship observed in cases with DVT and PE.

Azboy et al[12], in a retrospective study with 26.415 primary and revision TKAs, recommended VTE prevention in the first 2 weeks postoperatively, as they found 81% of the documented or symptomatic cases of PE in the first 3 days after surgery, 89% in the first week, and 94% in the first 2 weeks PO. We did not find a prophylaxis protocol similar to the one used in this series. The association between LMWH and Xa inhibitors is not described. Every analyzed study used the same drug during the entire prophylaxis period.[4] [7] [9] [13] Different factor Xa inhibitors were not considered a confounding factor because, in spite of the different drugs used (rivaroxaban, apixaban and dabigatran), all of them have the same site of function and were used in prophylactic doses, according to the recommendation of the manufacturers.[1]

The limitation of the present study lies on its retrospective nature, based on the database of the hospital. The search strategy using procedure codes and a careful reading of each record tried to minimize this fact. Because VTE is a low-prevalence event, a longer follow-up would be necessary to check the real number of this event. Another point is that the protocol has been changing over the years with the publication of new international consensus for the prevention of PE and VTE.


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Conclusion

Despite the implementation of the prevention protocol, a reduction in the studied events was not observed. The small global incidence of these diseases demands more studies with a longer follow-up in order to confirm or deny these findings.


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Conflitos de Interesses

Os autores declaram não haver conflitos de interesses.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the other fellow surgeons of the Knee Group of the Hospital Madre Teresa: Mateus Jacques, Tiago Jacques, and Luiz Fernando Machado Soares and undergraduate student in Medicine - PUC Minas - João Victor Soares Asssunção.

Work conducted at the Hospital Madre Teresa, Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.


  • Referências

  • 1 HCPUnet, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Disponível em: http://hcupnet.ahrq.gov
  • 2 Ethgen O, Bruyère O, Richy F. , et al. Health-related quality of life in total hip and total knee arthroplasty. A qualitative and systematic review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2004; 86 (05) 963-974
  • 3 Khokhar A, Chari A, Murray D. , et al. Venous thromboembolism and its prophylaxis in elective knee arthroplasty: an international perspective. Knee 2013; 20 (03) 170-176
  • 4 Chandrasekaran S, Ariaretnam SK, Tsung J. , et al. Early mobilization after total knee replacement reduces the incidence of deep venous thrombosis. ANZ J Surg 2009; 79 (7-8): 526-529
  • 5 Anderson DR, Dunbar M, Murnaghan J. , et al. Aspirin or Rivaroxaban for VTE Prophylaxis after Hip or Knee Arthroplasty. N Engl J Med 2018; 378 (08) 699-707
  • 6 Kjaersgaard-Andersen P, Kehlet H. Should deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis be used in fast-track hip and knee replacement?. Acta Orthop 2012; 83 (02) 105-106
  • 7 O'Reilly RF, Burgess IA, Zicat B. The prevalence of venous thromboembolism after hip and knee replacement surgery. Med J Aust 2005; 182 (04) 154-159
  • 8 Song K, Xu Z, Rong Z. , et al. The incidence of venous thromboembolism following total knee arthroplasty: a prospective study by using computed tomographic pulmonary angiography in combination with bilateral lower limb venography. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2016; 27 (03) 266-269
  • 9 Quinlan DJ, Eikelboom JW, Dahl OE. , et al. Association between asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis detected by venography and symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing elective hip or knee surgery. J Thromb Haemost 2007; 5 (07) 1438-1443
  • 10 Howie C, Hughes H, Watts AC. Venous thromboembolism associated with hip and knee replacement over a ten-year period: a population-based study. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005; 87 (12) 1675-1680
  • 11 Zhang ZH, Shen B, Yang J. , et al. Risk factors for venous thromboembolism of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review of evidences in ten years. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2015; 16: 24
  • 12 Azboy I, Barrack R, Thomas AM. , et al. Aspirin and the prevention of venous thromboembolism following total joint arthroplasty: commonly asked questions. Bone Joint J 2017; 99-B (11) 1420-1430
  • 13 Chung LH, Chen WM, Chen CF. , et al. Deep vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty in asian patients without prophylactic anticoagulation. Orthopedics 2011; 34 (01) 15

Endereço para correspondência

Eduardo Frois Temponi, MSc
Hospital Madre Teresa, Av. Raja Gabáglia 1002
Gutierrez, Belo Horizonte, 30430-142, Minas Gerais
Brasil   

Publication History

Received: 30 December 2018

Accepted: 18 July 2019

Article published online:
13 December 2019

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. Published by Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  • Referências

  • 1 HCPUnet, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Disponível em: http://hcupnet.ahrq.gov
  • 2 Ethgen O, Bruyère O, Richy F. , et al. Health-related quality of life in total hip and total knee arthroplasty. A qualitative and systematic review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2004; 86 (05) 963-974
  • 3 Khokhar A, Chari A, Murray D. , et al. Venous thromboembolism and its prophylaxis in elective knee arthroplasty: an international perspective. Knee 2013; 20 (03) 170-176
  • 4 Chandrasekaran S, Ariaretnam SK, Tsung J. , et al. Early mobilization after total knee replacement reduces the incidence of deep venous thrombosis. ANZ J Surg 2009; 79 (7-8): 526-529
  • 5 Anderson DR, Dunbar M, Murnaghan J. , et al. Aspirin or Rivaroxaban for VTE Prophylaxis after Hip or Knee Arthroplasty. N Engl J Med 2018; 378 (08) 699-707
  • 6 Kjaersgaard-Andersen P, Kehlet H. Should deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis be used in fast-track hip and knee replacement?. Acta Orthop 2012; 83 (02) 105-106
  • 7 O'Reilly RF, Burgess IA, Zicat B. The prevalence of venous thromboembolism after hip and knee replacement surgery. Med J Aust 2005; 182 (04) 154-159
  • 8 Song K, Xu Z, Rong Z. , et al. The incidence of venous thromboembolism following total knee arthroplasty: a prospective study by using computed tomographic pulmonary angiography in combination with bilateral lower limb venography. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2016; 27 (03) 266-269
  • 9 Quinlan DJ, Eikelboom JW, Dahl OE. , et al. Association between asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis detected by venography and symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing elective hip or knee surgery. J Thromb Haemost 2007; 5 (07) 1438-1443
  • 10 Howie C, Hughes H, Watts AC. Venous thromboembolism associated with hip and knee replacement over a ten-year period: a population-based study. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005; 87 (12) 1675-1680
  • 11 Zhang ZH, Shen B, Yang J. , et al. Risk factors for venous thromboembolism of total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review of evidences in ten years. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2015; 16: 24
  • 12 Azboy I, Barrack R, Thomas AM. , et al. Aspirin and the prevention of venous thromboembolism following total joint arthroplasty: commonly asked questions. Bone Joint J 2017; 99-B (11) 1420-1430
  • 13 Chung LH, Chen WM, Chen CF. , et al. Deep vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty in asian patients without prophylactic anticoagulation. Orthopedics 2011; 34 (01) 15

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Protocolo institucional de prevenção de tromboembolismo venoso - Artroplastia total joelho.
Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Institutional protocol for venous thromboembolism prevention - Total knee arthroplasty.