Risk of outpatient blood clot needs more attention: study

(Friday, 27 April HealthDay News) - people undergoing ambulatory surgery must be informed of their risk of dangerous blood clots, according to a new study which concludes the risk is higher among the groups, including, but not limited to, those who are elderly or obese.

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that 84 patients considered at high risk undergoes a blood clot after ambulatory surgery. More than 60% of the operations are currently performed as outpatient procedures, according to context in a new version of the University.

"Ambulatory surgery now includes a variety of procedures, cosmetic surgery for cancer and orthopedic surgery operations, and not all patients are young people and in good health," lead author of the study Dr. Christopher Pannucci, a surgeon plastic of the University of Michigan, said in the press release. "These data are in contrast strikingly with the expectations of the provider and patient ambulatory surgery is a low risk event".

Researchers have looked at more than 200,000 through the United States outpatient surgery and found that most of the patients had more than one risk factor to develop a clot, known as a venous thromboembolism. These clots to form in the veins (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) and can be fatal if they travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

The study, published online April 13 in the annals of surgery, found that improved patient screening is needed to prevent these dangerous blood clots. Factors to consider include:

Age surgery lengthCurrent pregnancyActive cancerType of surgery

The researchers, who have created a tool that clinicians can use to measure the risk of a patient for a blood clot after ambulatory surgery, said their findings could help improve how patients are informed of the surgical risks.

More information

The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has more on the treatment and prevention of blood clots.

SOURCE: University of Michigan health system, press release, April 24, 2012

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