Usefulness of lower extremity venous ultrasonography in the perioperative period of percutaneous catheter ablation

Abstract

Venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), often develops after surgery and childbirth, and thus, perioperative management is important. However, there are few reports related to the perioperative period of percutaneous catheter ablation (CA). We investigated and analyzed the incidence of and factors for DVT after CA by ultrasonography and determined the usefulness of lower extremity venous ultrasonography (LEUS) after CA. Of 195 consecutive patients who underwent CA for non-atrial fibrillation and LEUS on the day after surgery, 104 patients who did not receive oral anticoagulants were included in this study. We investigated the presence and location of DVT by LEUS and statistically analyzed the patient background characteristics, preoperative blood test values, and CA procedure. Eight of the 104 patients (7.7%) had DVT. The sites of DVT were the right femoral vein (FV) in two patients, the left and right soleus veins (SVs) in one patient, the left SV in four patients, and the right SV in one patient. Distal DVT was found in six patients, and proximal DVT in two patients. All proximal DVTs were on the right FV, which occurred at the same site as the puncture site. Compared with the non-DVT group, the DVT group had more patients aged 70 years or over and more patients with a history of DVT, higher D-dimer levels, and longer postoperative bed rest (p < 0.05). The occurrence of DVT in the perioperative period of CA is related to age, history of DVT, D-dimer level, and postoperative bed rest duration. LEUS is useful for the early diagnosis of DVT after CA.