Does Spine Surgery in Patients with a History of Bariatric Gastrectomy Increase the Risk of Delayed Pulmonary Embolism?

Mohammad Zarei; Mohsen Rostami; Furqan Mohammed Yaseen Khan

doi:10.18502/jost.v7i4.8864

Mohammad Zarei Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohsen Rostami Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience and Sports Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Furqan Mohammed Yaseen Khan Fellow of Spine Surgery, Orthopedic Surgeon, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jost.v7i4.8864

Keywords: Bariatric Surgery; Gastrectomy; Pulmonary Embolism; Spine; Venous Thromboembolism

Abstract

Background: This is a novel observation report on patients undergoing spine surgery with a history of bariatric procedures. Acknowledgment of aggregated complications in such patients can prevent catastrophic outcomes.

Case Report: We report three patients with spinal disorders and a history of bariatric surgery who developed pulmonary embolism following spine surgery. None of the patients had a history of venous thromboembolism or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) before this event. All patients were given thromboprophylaxis after both bariatric and spine surgery, including intra- and post-operative mechanical and pharmacological thromboprophylaxis upon discharge.

Conclusion: Patients undergoing spine surgery with a history of bariatric procedures are at increased risk of developing venous thromboembolic complications, including pulmonary embolism. We recommend extensive venous thromboembolic evaluation and treating these patients as high-risk individuals even in the absence of active thromboembolic disease.