Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veterans

Background: Patients who undergo below-knee surgical amputation (BKA) are at risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Limited prior studies quantified the rate of VTE post-BKA or the association of VTE with survival in this population. Objectives: We aimed to assess the incidence of post-...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Khanh P. Nguyen, Joshua B. Gruber, Megan L. Mertzel, Cecelia Madison, Reid Thompson, Kenneth Gundle, Scott Damrauer, Kristen M. Sanfilippo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475037925001797
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849399490046328832
author Khanh P. Nguyen
Joshua B. Gruber
Megan L. Mertzel
Cecelia Madison
Reid Thompson
Kenneth Gundle
Scott Damrauer
Kristen M. Sanfilippo
author_facet Khanh P. Nguyen
Joshua B. Gruber
Megan L. Mertzel
Cecelia Madison
Reid Thompson
Kenneth Gundle
Scott Damrauer
Kristen M. Sanfilippo
author_sort Khanh P. Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Background: Patients who undergo below-knee surgical amputation (BKA) are at risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Limited prior studies quantified the rate of VTE post-BKA or the association of VTE with survival in this population. Objectives: We aimed to assess the incidence of post-BKA VTE and the association with all-cause mortality in a cohort of United States veterans. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of veterans who underwent surgical BKA between October 2016 and January 2023. We identified VTE within 90 days post-BKA using a previously validated algorithm combining International Classification of Diseases codes with a new anticoagulant prescription, placement of an inferior vena cava filter, or death within 30 days. A time-dependent Cox proportional hazard model tested the association between VTE and death while adjusting for potential confounders. A sensitivity analysis removed individuals categorized as having an acute VTE based on the International Classification of Diseases for VTE plus death within 30 days. Results: A total of 6305 patients underwent a first-time surgical BKA. Of these, 132 experienced a VTE within 90 days post-BKA. Younger age was associated with a reduced risk of post-BKA VTE. After adjusting for confounders, VTE within 90 days of BKA was associated with a 3-fold increase in mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.17, 95% CI, 2.12-4.17). Conclusion: Patients who had a VTE within 90 days of BKA had a higher mortality than those without VTE post-BKA. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and investigate strategies to prevent post-BKA VTE.
format Article
id doaj-art-61d7369b5e5049b8afef787e40d4db33
institution Kabale University
issn 2475-0379
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis
spelling doaj-art-61d7369b5e5049b8afef787e40d4db332025-08-20T03:38:19ZengElsevierResearch and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis2475-03792025-05-019410285510.1016/j.rpth.2025.102855Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veteransKhanh P. Nguyen0Joshua B. Gruber1Megan L. Mertzel2Cecelia Madison3Reid Thompson4Kenneth Gundle5Scott Damrauer6Kristen M. Sanfilippo7Research & Development, Portland Veterans Administration Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA; Department of Vascular Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA; Correspondence Khanh P. Nguyen, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA.Research & Development, Portland Veterans Administration Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USAResearch & Development, Portland Veterans Administration Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA; Department of Vascular Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USAResearch & Development, Portland Veterans Administration Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USAResearch & Development, Portland Veterans Administration Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USAResearch & Development, Portland Veterans Administration Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USADepartment of Vascular Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USADepartment of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Hematology & Oncology, Veterans Administration St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, Missouri, USABackground: Patients who undergo below-knee surgical amputation (BKA) are at risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Limited prior studies quantified the rate of VTE post-BKA or the association of VTE with survival in this population. Objectives: We aimed to assess the incidence of post-BKA VTE and the association with all-cause mortality in a cohort of United States veterans. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of veterans who underwent surgical BKA between October 2016 and January 2023. We identified VTE within 90 days post-BKA using a previously validated algorithm combining International Classification of Diseases codes with a new anticoagulant prescription, placement of an inferior vena cava filter, or death within 30 days. A time-dependent Cox proportional hazard model tested the association between VTE and death while adjusting for potential confounders. A sensitivity analysis removed individuals categorized as having an acute VTE based on the International Classification of Diseases for VTE plus death within 30 days. Results: A total of 6305 patients underwent a first-time surgical BKA. Of these, 132 experienced a VTE within 90 days post-BKA. Younger age was associated with a reduced risk of post-BKA VTE. After adjusting for confounders, VTE within 90 days of BKA was associated with a 3-fold increase in mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.17, 95% CI, 2.12-4.17). Conclusion: Patients who had a VTE within 90 days of BKA had a higher mortality than those without VTE post-BKA. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and investigate strategies to prevent post-BKA VTE.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475037925001797risk factorssurgical amputationsurvival analysisvenous thromboembolismveterans
spellingShingle Khanh P. Nguyen
Joshua B. Gruber
Megan L. Mertzel
Cecelia Madison
Reid Thompson
Kenneth Gundle
Scott Damrauer
Kristen M. Sanfilippo
Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veterans
Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis
risk factors
surgical amputation
survival analysis
venous thromboembolism
veterans
title Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veterans
title_full Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veterans
title_fullStr Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veterans
title_full_unstemmed Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veterans
title_short Post–below-knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in United States veterans
title_sort post below knee amputation venous thromboembolism and mortality in united states veterans
topic risk factors
surgical amputation
survival analysis
venous thromboembolism
veterans
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475037925001797
work_keys_str_mv AT khanhpnguyen postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans
AT joshuabgruber postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans
AT meganlmertzel postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans
AT ceceliamadison postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans
AT reidthompson postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans
AT kennethgundle postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans
AT scottdamrauer postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans
AT kristenmsanfilippo postbelowkneeamputationvenousthromboembolismandmortalityinunitedstatesveterans