Early postoperative COVID infection is associated with significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism after metabolic and bariatric surgery.

Patients who undergo metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) are at risk for thromboembolism. Patients are susceptible to coronavirus throughout the perioperative period, which also has a well-known association with thrombotic complications. To identify and define the association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and postoperative coronavirus diagnosis in bariatric surgery patients. United States. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the MBS Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) 2021 database to analyze the incidence of VTE within 30 days of surgery. VTE was a composite variable defined as either postoperative pulmonary embolism or postoperative venous thrombus requiring treatment. Cohorts were stratified by whether the patient was diagnosed with postoperative coronavirus. We created a multivariable logistic regression model to determine the adjusted odds of postoperative VTE based on various factors. Additionally, we conducted subset analyses of sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y bypass cases, the 2 most frequent bariatric operations in the United States. Patients diagnosed with postoperative coronavirus were significantly more likely to develop postoperative VTE (1.1% versus.3%, P <.001). In our logistic regression model, the adjusted odds of postoperative VTE for patients with postoperative coronavirus was 3.55 (95% CI: 2.15–5.87, P <.001). For patients who underwent Roux-en-Y bypass, the adjusted odds was even greater at 5.69 (95% CI: 2.76–11.70, P <.001). Early postoperative coronavirus infection after MBS is associated with higher odds of postoperative VTE. This persisted on subset analyses of the 2 most common procedures and appeared particularly important for Roux-en-Y bypass. COVID infection after MBS may warrant prolonged VTE prophylaxis. • Postoperative COVID was associated with VTE development in MBS patients. • This association persisted on multivariable logistic regression analysis. • There was no difference in mortality in patients with and without postop COVID diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]