The Characteristics of Post-Operative Deep Vein Thrombosis in Kidney Transplant Recipients – Difference from Other Type of Surgery

J. Kim,¹ I. Moon,¹ M.-H. Kim,¹ K. Park,² S. Ahn,³ S. Park,⁴ S.-D. Kim,⁵ S. Kim.⁶

¹Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
²Surgery, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
³Surgery, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
⁴Surgery, Uijeongbu St Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
⁵Surgery, Incheon St Mary's Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea
⁶Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: C230

Keywords: Anticoagulation, Kidney transplantation, Screening, Surgical complications

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session C: Surgical Issues/Ureteral Complications

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Monday, May 4, 2015

Session Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Presentation Time: 5:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Exhibit Hall E

Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a severe and common complication that occurs after a major operation. Despite the commonality of DVT, there is limited data on the incidence and characteristics of DVT after kidney transplantation (KT). Further exacerbating the limitations of the existing literature is that most studies have been retrospective in design and were conducted in Western countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of lower extremity DVT with mechanical thromboprophylaxis within 1 year of KT in Korean.

Methods A total of 503 consecutive patients who underwent KT from November, 2009 to October, 2013 were included. The frequency of DVT during the first year after KT was evaluated using serial color duplex ultrasound (CDU) on postoperative days 1 week, 2 week, 4 week, 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month.

Results DVT occurred in 22patients (4.4%) during this period. All except one DVT were asymptomatic and detected routine scheduled CDU. The timing after transplant is illustrated in Table 1.

Time occurrence of deep vein thrombosis
	≤ 1week	2weeks	4weeks	3months	6months	12months
No of DVT	4(0.8%)	6(1.3%)	4(0.9%)	6(2.2%)	1(0.7%)	1(0.8%)
No at risk	484	475	456	270	151	123

DVT; deep vein thrombosisThe incidence of DVT within 1 week is only 18.1 % of total DVT and the highest number of DVT (27.3%) occurred in the third months after transplant. On multivariate analysis, recipient age at transplantation (RR 1.059, 95% CI 1.013-1.107, p = 0.012) and history of DVT (RR14.468, 95% CI 2.245-93.227, p=0.008) were only significant risk factor for DVT.

Conclusion Compared with DVT occurred after other type of major surgery, the characteristics of DVT in KT recipients were lower incidence, mild symptoms, and late onset of DVT. These findings suggest that different and longer prophylaxis is required to prevent DVT in KT recipient.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Kim J, Moon I, Kim M-H, Park K, Ahn S, Park S, Kim S-D, Kim S. The Characteristics of Post-Operative Deep Vein Thrombosis in Kidney Transplant Recipients – Difference from Other Type of Surgery [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/the-characteristics-of-post-operative-deep-vein-thrombosis-in-kidney-transplant-recipients-difference-from-other-type-of-surgery/. Accessed May 9, 2025.

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