Short summary

The development of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) is caused by an imbalance in the hemostasis, which in Virchows triad is defined as an interaction between the vascular wall, blood flow and the blood components. A reduced blood flow, which is common among cancer patients, is a risk factor for developing a VTE. The tumor can also have an indirect or direct effect on the vascular wall. Finally, the blood components can be affected by the cancer or cancer therapies.

The Danish Society for Hemostasis and Thrombosis recommend that all patients with active cancer diagnoses who undergo surgical procedures for solid cancers should have thrombosis prophylaxis for 4 weeks following the procedure. However, the current practice of administering thrombosis prophylaxis is very diverse among treatment centers and few studies have investigated the risk following urological procedures. As such, studies that investigate the risk of VTE on head-to-head analyses are warranted. 

Rationale

The objective of the study is to investigate if patients with active cancers have a higher risk of VTEs following urological procedures compared to patients without an active cancer. 

Description of the cohort

Nationwide, population based register study of VTE following nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, Anderson-Heynes and cystectomy for malignant and benign causes. 

Data and biological material

All data are identified in the Danish nationwide registers and include: comorbidity, previous cancer diagnosis and socioeconomic status prior to surgery, death and cause after the procedure as well as VTE complications.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Urology, Odense University Hospital and Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense

• Consultant and Professor Lars Lund

Copenhagen Prostate Cancer Center, Department of Urology, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen

• Frederik B. Thomsen, MD, PhD

Department of Urology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde

• Kasper D. Berg, MD

Department of Urology, Odense University Hospital

• Torben B. Pedersen

Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense and Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Hospital, Tennessee, USA

• Professor Peter Clark, MD