Background: The aim of this study was to assess and recommend the optimal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis regimen during and after laparoscopic fundoplication according to the blood coagulation disorders and the rate of DVT in 2 patient groups, receiving different DVT prophylaxis regimens.
Materials and methods: This was a prospective randomized, single-center clinical study. The study population, 121 patients, were divided into 2 groups: group I received low-molecular-weight heparin 12 hours before the operation; group II received low-molecular-weight heparin only 1 hour before the laparoscopic fundoplication. Both groups received intermittent pneumatic compression during the entire procedure. Bilateral Doppler ultrasound to exclude DVT was performed before the surgery. Venous phase computed tomographic images were acquired from the ankle to the iliac tubercles on the third postoperative day to determine the presence and location of DVT. Hypercoagulation state was assessed by measuring the prothrombin fragment F1+2 (F1+2), the thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and tissue factor microparticles activity (MP-TF) in plasma. The hypocoagulation effect was evaluated by measuring plasma free tissue factor pathway inhibitor (fTFPI).
Results: F1+2, TAT, and MP-TF indexes increased significantly, whereas fTFPI levels decreased significantly during and after laparoscopic fundoplication, when molecular-weight heparin was administered 12 hours before the operation. Computed tomography venography revealed peroneal vein thrombosis in 2 group I patients on the third postoperative day. Total postsurgical DVT frequency was 1.65%: 3.6% in group I, with no DVT in group II.
Conclusion: Molecular-weight heparin and intraoperative intermittent pneumatic compression controls the hypercoagulation effect more efficiently when it is administered 1 hour before surgery: it causes significant reduction of F1+2, TAT, and MP-TF indexes and significant increases of fTFPI levels during and after laparoscopic fundoplication.