Factors associated with in-hospital pulmonary embolism after shoulder arthroplasty

• Published in: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery 2015-10, Vol.24 (10), p.e271-e278
• Main Authors: Young, Bradley L., BS, Menendez, Mariano E., MD, Baker, Dustin K., BS, Ponce, Brent A., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthroplasty, Replacement - adverse effects; Comorbidity; Databases, Factual; Female; Hemiarthroplasty - adverse effects; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Middle Aged; Nationwide Inpatient Sample; Orthopedics; perioperative complications; Postoperative Care; pulmonary embolism; Pulmonary Embolism - epidemiology; Pulmonary Embolism - etiology; Risk Factors; shoulder arthroplasty; Shoulder Joint - surgery; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1058-2746; 1532-6500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2015.04.002

Background Despite that pulmonary embolism (PE) is a feared complication after shoulder arthroplasty, little is known about its perioperative associated factors. Materials and methods We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to gather a sample of 422,372 patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty between 2002 and 2011. This population was divided into 2 cohorts on the basis of those who experienced perioperative PE (0.25%) and those who did not. Demographics were compiled for both cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to account for confounding variables and to determine significant predictors of perioperative PE. Results After adjusting for patient demographic and clinical variables in multivariable regression modeling, the top 4 independent predictors for PE were primary diagnosis of proximal humerus fracture, deficiency anemia, congestive heart failure, and chronic lung disease. Other pertinent risk factors included increasing age, obesity, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty rather than hemiarthroplasty, and subsequent days of postoperative care. Conclusions Knowledge of these factors might help in preoperative counseling and prove useful for implementation of quality improvement strategies to reduce the occurrence of PE. Surgeons may consider initiating thromboprophylaxis in patients with any of the aforementioned comorbidities.