An Unusual Case of Deep Vein Thrombosis After Orthognathic Surgery: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is caused primarily by obstruction of blood flow in the deep veins in the lower limbs. It is a form of thrombophlebitis and can be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. This report describes an unusual case of DVT in a 21-year-old woman with Class III malocclusion who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and Le Fort I osteotomy) under general anesthesia. She developed DVT unexpectedly 1week after surgery, with episodes of sweating and chills in addition to lower limb edema, tenderness, and rigidity. D-dimer laboratory testing and venous Doppler sonography were performed and the DVT diagnosis was confirmed; therefore, the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for anticoagulant and supportive therapy. Although the incidence rate of thromboembolism in hospitalized patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery is low, it is not an operation without risk of DVT. This complication can cause fatal acute pulmonary thromboembolism and death. This case study illustrates that pharmacologic treatment of menorrhagia with mefenamic acid combined with intraoperative use of tranexamic acid for control of blood loss might put the patient at increased risk of DVT. Hence, maxillofacial surgeons should assess all their patients preoperatively for thromboembolism risk; if they suspect any risk factors in the patient, prompt diagnostic tests and management should be ordered.