Publications : 2010

Thomsen RW, Schoonen WM, Farkas DK, Riis A, Fryzek JP, Sørensen HT. 2010. Risk of venous thromboembolism in splenectomized patients compared with the general population and appendectomized patients: A 10-year nationwide cohort study. J Thromb Haemost 8(6):1413-1416.

Abstract

Splenectomy has been associated with hemorrhagic and other peri‐ or postoperative complications [1], and splenectomized patients are at lifelong increased risk of severe bacterial infections and mortality. Other potential complications include venous thromboembolism (VTE), including portal vein thrombosis usually originating in the splenic vein. Postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower leg and pulmonary embolism (PE) have also been reported. However, epidemiological data on the magnitude and duration of increased VTE risk in splenectomized patients are sparse, and few splenectomy studies have followed patients beyond 1 year. We conducted a nationwide, population‐based assessment of risk of VTE‐related hospital contacts among splenectomized patients compared with Denmark’s general population and appendectomized patients.