Evaluation of Risk Factors and Preventive Measures for Deep Vein Thrombosis of Lower Limbs in Minimal Access Surgery

Deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs affects 1-2 % of hospitalized patients. Interplay of factors like vessel wall injury, venous pooling, decreased blood flow and state of hypercoagulability predispose to thrombi formation. In conventional surgery as compared to the minimal access surgery, the prolonged surgery time, longer hospital stay, prolonged immobilization and enhanced tissue disruption favors thrombi formation in lower limbs. However the risk of deep vein thrombosis in laparoscopic surgery is related to the high intra-abdominal pressure and the reverse trendelenburg position causing venous pooling in lower limbs particularly in upper gastrointestinal surgery