OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patients with perioperative or previous coronavirus infection (CVI) have a greater risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A multiple-center regional prospective retrospective cohort study included elective and emergency patients who underwent surgery in November 2020. The primary endpoint was VTE (PE/DVT) within 30 days after surgery. CVI was stratified as perioperative (7 days before surgery — 30 days after surgery), recent (1—6 weeks before surgery) and remote (≥7 weeks before surgery) infection. There was no information about prevention or preoperative anticoagulation at baseline data collection.

RESULTS

Incidence of postoperative VTE was 1.5% (10/650) in patients without CVI, 33.3% (3/9) in patients with perioperative CVI, 18.1% (2/11) in patients with recent CVI and 8.3% (1/12) in patients with remote CVI. After adjusting the confounders, patients with perioperative and recent CVI remained at a higher risk of VTE. In general, VTEs were independently associated with 30-day mortality. In patients with CVI, mortality rate among ones without VTE was 21.7% (5/23), with VTE — 44.4% (4/9).

CONCLUSION

Patients with perioperative CVI have a higher risk of postoperative VTE compared to those without CVI and patients with previous CVI and no residual symptoms. Mortality in this group is also higher than in other cohorts.