Commentary on: Venous thromboembolism in abdominoplasty: A comprehensive approach to lower procedural risk

摘要

Prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) continues to draw attention as more studies become available on the incidence and risk stratification for the plastic surgery patient population. In aesthetic plastic surgery, abdominoplasty patients appear to be at higher risk for VTE compared with those undergoing other common elective procedures, with rates ranging from one in 1000 to one in 300 patients based on a review of two large plastic surgery databases with over 30,000 patients.2 When abdominoplasty is combined with other procedures or a circumferential abdominoplasty is performed, the risk of VTE23 and death from pulmonary embolism increases significantly (G. Keyes, personal communication, 2011).