Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment Models in Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract

MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched between February 2010 and December 2021. All published English articles that report the incidence of VTE stratified by a RAM among patients who underwent plastic surgery were included. The results of the presented meta-analysis were pooled using a random-effects model. The database search revealed 809 articles, out of which eight studies (n = 1,348,606) were eligible. Out of the eight studies, six utilized the Caprini score, and three utilized ASA score. Super-high-risk patients were significantly more likely to present with VTE than their high-risk [odds ratio (OR), 2.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26-6.78], medium-risk (OR, 5.29; 95% CI, 2.38-11.79), or low-risk counterparts (OR, 10.00; 95% CI, 2.32-43.10) at Caprini score. High-risk patients in ASA score showed significant increase in VTE incidents (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.10-6.72). Both Caprini and ASA RAMs showed compelling evidence of efficacy in our study. However, the Caprini RAM is more predictive of postoperative VTE incidents in high-risk plastic surgery patients than the ASA grading system.