Elastic Stockings Plus Enoxaparin And Intermittent Pneumatic Compression In Preventing Postoperative Deep Venous Thrombosis In Patients With Ovarian Cancer

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effects of elastic socks plus enoxaparin and intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in preventing postoperative lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT) in patients with ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: A prospective, single-center, double-blind, case-control study was conducted. Ninety-two patients with OC were enrolled and randomly allocated into a combined group (n=46) or a control group (n=46). The patients in the control group were treated with enoxaparin after surgery, and those in the combined group were treated with elastic stockings, IPC, and enoxaparin. The therapeutic effects between the two groups were compared. The incidence of postoperative DVT, changes in the plasma D-dimer levels at 3 days before and 5 days after surgery, the platelet (PLT) count, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and mean flow velocity (Vm) were measured at the 5th day after surgery. Swelling and pain of the lower extremities and patient satisfaction were also recorded. Results: The incidences of DVT and the swelling and pain of the lower extremities in the combined group were lower than they were in the control group (P<0.05). At 5 days after the surgery, the plasma D-dimer levels in both groups were higher than they were at 3 days before the surgery, and the combined group had a lower level than the control group (P<0.05). PLT increased, but the PT, APTT, and Vm decreased in both groups at 5 days after the surgery. The Vm in the combined group was higher than it was in the control group (all P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in the PLT, PT or APTT between the two groups (P>0.05). The patients in the combined group showed higher satisfaction than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Elastic stockings plus enoxaparin and IPC effectively prevent postoperative DVT, alleviate lower extremity swelling and pain, and improve the satisfaction of patients with OC, but the combination has no effects on the coagulation mechanism.