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General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Published in:

01-02-2019 | Original Article

Is postoperative anticoagulation necessary after left innominate vein division in general thoracic surgery?

Authors: Hironobu Hoshino, Takeshi Matsunaga, Kazuya Takamochi, Shiaki Oh, Kenji Suzuki

Published in: General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery | Issue 2/2019

Abstract

Objectives

We encounter patients with mediastinal tumors invading the left innominate vein (LIV), and there is no evidence confirming whether the LIV should simply be ligated or reconstructed. The need for postoperative anticoagulant therapy after ligation of LIV is also controversial.

Methods

3209 patients with thoracic malignant tumors underwent surgical resection between 1994 and 2014 in our institute. Nineteen (0.6%) patients had mediastinal malignant tumors invading the LIV and underwent LIV resection. Of these patients, only 3 underwent reconstruction of LIV. We did not start anticoagulant therapy routinely after resection of LIV. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group A showed at least 50% patency of LIV by preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and group B showed less than 50%. We investigated the safety of resecting LIV and the need for postoperative anticoagulant therapy.

Results

The 30-day and 90-day mortalities were zero in both groups. Thrombosis of the LIV stump and increased edema in the left neck and upper limb were observed in 2 (10.5%) patients only in group A. After initiating the anticoagulant therapy, the embolisms disappeared and weaning the patients off warfarin could be done in less than 1 year.

Conclusions

In this study, there was no case of mortality or severe morbidity among the patients with LIV resection. Moreover, there was no need to initiate routine anticoagulant therapy after the LIV division as the frequency of embolism in the LIV stump was low and was expected to disappear prior to starting anticoagulant therapy.

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Title: Is postoperative anticoagulation necessary after left innominate vein division in general thoracic surgery?
Authors: Hironobu Hoshino
Takeshi Matsunaga
Kazuya Takamochi
Shiaki Oh
Kenji Suzuki
Publication date: 01-02-2019
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Published in: General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 1863-6705
Electronic ISSN: 1863-6713
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-018-1019-6

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Is postoperative anticoagulation necessary after left innominate vein division in general thoracic surgery?

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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