“An increased risk of DVT and PE in patients with IBD has been evident for the past 75 years. Most work in this area has not looked specifically at patients undergoing surgery. Patients with IBD frequently require surgical intervention, and an understanding of their risk of venous thromboembolism is therefore an important issue. This study aimed to examine rates of DVT and PE in patients with IBD undergoing surgery using data from the NSQIP.”

“Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for thromboembolic events, especially deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). This association was first described in 1936 by Bargen and Barker, who described 18 patients with thromboembolic disease (predominantly venous) in more than 1000 patients treated for IBD at Mayo Clinic. Recent publications suggest that patients with IBD have increased risk of venous thromboembolism varying from as low as 1.5 times that of nonaffected patients to as high as 4.7-fold for patients with Crohn disease in a population-based cohort study. Moreover, patients with IBD who have PE appear to have increased risk of death compared with others. Despite these findings, standard DVT and PE prophylaxis guidelines do not recommend enhanced prophylaxis for patients with IBD,””Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for thromboembolic events, especially deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). This association was first described in 1936 by Bargen and Barker, who described 18 patients with thromboembolic disease (predominantly venous) in more than 1000 patients treated for IBD at Mayo Clinic. Recent publications suggest that patients with IBD have increased risk of venous thromboembolism varying from as low as 1.5 times that of nonaffected patients to as high as 4.7-fold for patients with Crohn disease in a population-based cohort study. Moreover, patients with IBD who have PE appear to have increased risk of death compared with others. Despite these findings, standard DVT and PE prophylaxis guidelines do not recommend enhanced prophylaxis for patients with IBD.”

Merrill A, Millham F. Increased risk of postoperative deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a study of National Surgical Quality Improvement Program patients. Arch Surg. 2012 Feb;147(2):120-4. Free Full Text