Efficacy and Safety of Extended Duration Postoperative Thromboprophylaxis with Low-Molecular-Weight-Heparin Among Subgroups of Patients Undergoing Surgical Resection of Colorectal Cancer: A Post-Hoc Analysis of the Periop-01 Trial

Background: Clinical practice guidelines suggest the use of extended duration of postoperative thromboprophylaxis to prevent venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications after any cancer-related major abdominal or pelvic surgeries. However, recent trials including patients undergoing surgical resection of colorectal cancer have reported relatively low rates of symptomatic VTE. Hence, the risk and benefits of extended postoperative thromboprophylaxis need to be carefully assessed in this patient population. We sought to determine the impact of extended duration thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight-heparin on VTE and bleeding events among different subgroups of patients undergoing surgical resection of localized colorectal cancer.