WCE 2018: Preoperative D-dimer Test as the Screening of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Patients Undergoing Urological Surgery
Dr. Tatarano and his team recruited patients between 2015 and 2017 that had underwent a urologic procedure and had examined preoperative D-dimer tests. Ultrasound was used to examine patients with notably high levels of D-dimer (>1.0 microgram per milliliter). Dr. Tatarano claims that ultrasound of the lower limbs along with the D-dimer tests were able to reliably diagnose DVT prior to an operation. Twenty patients were reported to have preoperative DVT in this study. These patients were given anticoagulants, and were reassessed for preoperative thromboembolism several months later.
Following surgery, the authors reported no patients to have any signs of DVT of venous thromboembolism. Despite this result, Dr. Tatarano made it clear to the audience that much more evidence needs to be recruited in order to comprehend the relationship between DVT prior to surgery and symptomatic thromboembolism following a procedure. The authors suggested a study with more power to confirm their tentative findings. It is important to note that this is the first attempt to preoperatively examine patients for DVT in urology.
Presented by Shuichi Tatarano, MD, assistant professor, Department of Urology, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan
Written by: Mitchell O’Leary, Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine, medical writer for UroToday at the 36th World Congress of Endourology (WCE) and SWL - September 20-23, 2018 Paris, France