Efficacy of self-heating calf sleeves for preventing deep vein thrombosis in lung cancer patients who undergo video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy

Abstract

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) poses a considerable perioperative risk in patients who undergo surgical procedures. This study set out to determine the efficacy of self-heating calf sleeves (SHCSs) in preventing postoperative DVT in lung cancer patients undergoing VATS lobectomy. Methods: This study included 557 participants who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy between June, 2018 and June, 2019. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: the SHCS group and the control group. SHCS was applied to the patients intraoperatively. Each patient was subjected to Doppler ultrasound and D-dimer examination preoperatively and postoperatively. Signs and symptoms of DVT were monitored daily. Incidences of DVT were compared between the two groups. Results: Based on Color Doppler ultrasonography performed on day 2 after surgery, 42 of the 276 patients (15.20%) in the control group developed DVT, compared to 12 out of 281 patients (4.27%) in the SHCS group. There was significant difference in the incidence of DVT between the two groups (P<0.0001). The use of SHCSs significantly enhanced venous blood flow compared to when no mechanical prophylaxis was used (P<0.001). No significant difference in plasma D-dimer level was observed between the two groups. No SHCS-related complications occurred in the study. Conclusions: This study demonstrate that SHCSs are a satisfactory form of DVT prophylaxis method that can improve venous blood flow and thus alleviate venous stasis in the lower extremities. SHCSs offer a simple, inexpensive, and generally complication-free prophylactic method for lung cancer patients undergoing VATS lobectomy.