Overview

Thromboprophylaxis for pancreatic surgery can be commenced either preoperatively or postoperatively. Despite a clear trade-off between thrombosis and bleeding in pancreatic surgery patients, there is no international consensus when thrombosis prophylaxis should be commenced in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery. There are no prospective randomized trials in this field, and current guidelines are unfortunately based on very low quality evidence, that is, a few retrospective studies and expert opinion. Both American and European thromboprophylaxis guidelines for abdominal cancer surgery support the preoperative initiation of thromboprophylaxis, but these guidelines do not specifically address the increased bleeding risk associated with pancreatic surgery. On the contrary, Dutch guidelines recommend postoperative thromboprophylaxis only, because of lack of evidence for preoperative thromboprophylaxis. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Guidelines recommend preoperative thromboprophylaxis in pancreatic surgery, but the guidelines provide no supporting evidence for this recommendation. Overall, the amount of evidence is scarce and somewhat contradictory in this clinically relevant field of thromboprophylaxis in pancreatic surgery. The aim of this study is to compare pre- and postoperatively initiated thromboprophylaxis regimens in pancreatic surgery in a randomized controlled trial.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

All patients undergoing either

1. pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy (for any indication) or
2. distal pancreatectomy for suspicion of cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient on anticoagulative medication (heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants) during the month (30 days) preceding surgery
2. Emergency operation (e.g. for trauma, infection or pancreatitis)
3. Age < 18 years
4. Allergy or other contraindication to planned low-molecular weight heparin
5. Inability to give written informed consent
6. Pancreatic resection not performed (removed from analyses after randomization)