Venous thromboembolism: risk factors in the sleeve gastrectomy era

Of complications after bariatric surgery, venous thromboembolism (VTE) has the greatest impact on mortality. To examine risk factors for postoperative VTE and identify high-risk patients who may benefit from prolonged prophylaxis. National Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) database Patients who underwent primary, laparoscopic bariatric surgery 2015–2019 were identified. Risk factors were sex, age, body mass index (BMI), history of VTE, immobility, venous stasis disease, operative time greater >3 hours, and procedure type. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between factors and the outcome of postoperative VTE. We examined contributions of each factor through average marginal effects and E-values. We added Black versus White race to the same regression model to understand whether race acted as a moderating factor. In our study, 1677 of 605,782 (.28%) patients experienced postoperative VTE. On multivariable analysis, previous history of VTE had the greatest association, increasing risk of postoperative VTE by +.90% points (95% CI [confidence interval] +.73% to +1.07%). Lower-95% CI E-value bounds were 1.43 for men, 1.11 preoperative BMI, 7.38 history of VTE, and 2.15 operative length >3 hours. Black patients had an additional +.18% (95% CI +.14 to +.22%) risk of postoperative VTE, corresponding to a lower E-value bound of 2.50. In this study using recent years’ national bariatric surgery data, we find history of VTE is the greatest driver of postoperative VTE. Most importantly, Black patients are more likely to suffer postoperative VTE. Now is the time to use the power of quality improvement programs to ensure health equity for all our patients. •In recent years, the incidence of post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains low at 0.28% after bariatric surgery.•Of established risk factors examined, history of VTE is the largest contributor.•Black patients are at higher risk than White patients for developing post-operative VTE in adjusted analyses. Our quality improvement programs should focus on addressing this health equity issue.