Venous Thromboembolism and Robotic Surgery: Need for Prophylaxis and Review of Literature

Abstract

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) continues to be one of the devastating perioperative complications of any surgery. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a catastrophic consequence of DVT which is better prevented than treated. Despite the laying down of various treatment protocols and improvements in prophylaxis, both DVT and PE continue to cause significant patient morbidity and mortality. Robotic surgery is a new feather in the revolutionary cap of minimal access surgery. Almost every part of the body can be operated by robot-assisted surgery for improved patient outcomes. It has several advantages in the form of lesser postoperative pain, early return to activity, lesser blood loss with consequent lesser transfusion requirements and better cosmesis. There have been very few studies on the incidence and management of DVT or PE following robotic surgeries. This review article aims to elucidate the above in robot-assisted abdomino-pelvic surgeries, especially in cancer patients.