Incidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis in women following caesarean section at Obstetric Professorial Unit of De Soyza Hospital for Women.

Abstract

This is a Prospective Cohort Study of Six hundred eleven women who underwent caesarean section during a period of nine months (1st of March 2003 to 31st of November 2003) in the above unit. Data was collected by an Interviewer-based pretested questionnaire, from case notes, physical examination and by doing non invasive colour Duplex ultrasonography and real time ultrasound scan.. Five hundred and four out of six hundred eleven women responded to this study. The response rate was 83.3 percentage. Based on clinical diagnosis 14 cases were detected as haying DVT. Out of these 14 cases 6 had continned DVT by objective tests. Out of the 6 continned cases one had pulmonary thromboembolism (PIE). The risk factors identified for DVT in our study include emergency caesarean section, age - 35years, para -4, pre eclampsia, current major illnesses, current infections immobility prior to surgery. The very high risk for D VT was identified as of risk score - 10 or risk factors 5 or more.The sensitivity of clinical diagnosis is 42.8 percentage. Thromboembolic disease is not uncommon among women after caesarean section in Sri Lanka. The long standing belief that thromboembolism is rare among Sri Lankan women is at least partly because of under diagnosis. So diagnosis treatment may prevent morbidity and mortality due to DVT and PTE.