Perioperative Venous Thromboembolism Chemoprophylaxis Does Not Increase Risk of Complications in Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.

[BACKGROUND] Patients undergoing abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction are at risk for perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the optimal anticoagulation protocol remains unknown. We hypothesized that a standardized chemoprophylaxis protocol would minimize VTE events without increasing hematoma, flap loss, or reoperation.

[METHODS] A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction from 2010 to 2023. In 2015, we implemented an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol including preoperative enoxaparin. Patients with a BMI < 30 and > 30 received enoxaparin for 7 and 30 days postoperatively, respectively. 2010-2015 patients were pre-ERAS and 2015-2023 patients were the ERAS cohort. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were analyzed. The primary outcomes were VTE, hematoma, flap loss, and reoperation.

[RESULTS] 2317 patients were included: 679 were pre-ERAS and 1638 were in the ERAS cohort. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (0.7%) and pulmonary embolism (pre-ERAS 0.6% vs. ERAS 0.5%) was low in both cohorts with no significant differences. Hematoma (pre-ERAS 7.2% vs. ERAS 5.5%) and reoperation (pre-ERAS 7.8% vs. ERAS 9.7%) were similar, but the ERAS cohort had significantly lower flap failure (0.7% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.05).

[CONCLUSIONS] A standardized perioperative anticoagulation protocol for abdominal-based breast reconstruction maintained low VTE rates without increasing hematoma, flap failure, or reoperation.