Evidence table of the 12 studies included in the meta-analysis
Study name | Study design | Intervention | Open, MIS, or mixed | Dose and timing | Post-op duration | Control | Sample size (n) | Outcome (DVT, PE, or both) | Benign or malignant | Quality |
Ailawadi, 200118 | Retrospective cohort | UFH+SCD | Mixed | 5000 units on call to OR | Until discharge | SCD | 168 | Both | Malignant | High |
Bouchard-Fortier, 201419 | Retrospective cohort | UFH or LMWH | Mixed | Not noted | Mostly 2 doses or fewer | No prophylaxis | 419 | Both | Malignant | Poor |
Clarke-Pearson, 198322 | Retrospective cohort | UFH | Open | 5000 units at midnight prior or 2 hours pre OR | Until POD 5–7 | No prophylaxis or SCD | 281 | Both | Malignant | High |
Corr, 201523 | Prospective cohort | Pre-op UFH+SCD | Mixed | 5000–7500 units prior to skin incision | Up to 14 days if malignant | Post-op UFH+SCD | 527 | Both | Both | High |
Einstein, 200824 | Prospective cohort | UFH+SCD | Not stated | 5000 units 1–2 hours pre OR | Until discharge | SCD | 605 | Both | Both | High |
Freeman, 201625 | Retrospective cohort | UFH or LMWH+SCD | MIS | UFH 5000 units or enoxaparin 30–40 mg 1 hour pre OR | Until discharge | SCD | 1143 | Both | Malignant | High |
Hansen, 200826 | Prospective cohort | Pre-op UFH | Mixed | Dose not given; prior to skin incision | Not stated | Post-op UFH | 9035 | Both | Benign | High |
Hopp, 201816 | Retrospective cohort | Pre-op and post-op UFH+SCD | Not stated | Not noted | Not stated | Post-op UFH+SCD | 1129 | Both | Malignant | Poor |
Maxwell, 20012 | RCT | LMWH | Mixed | Dalteparin 2500 units 1–2 hours pre OR | Until POD 5 or ambulatory | SCD | 211 | Both | Malignant | Fair |
Pelkofski, 201417 | Retrospective cohort | Pre-op anticoagulant | Open | Dose not given; prior to skin incision | Not stated | Post-op anticoagulant | 431 | Both | Both | Poor |
Ugaki, 200820 | Retrospective cohort | Pre-op and post-op UFH+SCD | Open | 2500 units 2 hours pre OR | 1 dose 12 hours post-op | SCDs | 85 | PE | Malignant | Poor |
Whitworth, 201121 | Retrospective cohort | Pre-op LMWH and post-op LMWH+SCD | Open | 40 mg 2 hours pre OR | Until discharge | Post-op LMWH+SCD | 239 | DVT | Both | Poor |
*Mechanical refers to sequential compression devices or other mechanical venous thromboembolic prophylaxis.
DVT, deep vein thrombosis; LMWH, low molecular weight heparin; MIS, minimally invasive surgery; OR, operating room; PE, pulmonary embolism; POD, post-opereative day; post-op, post-operative; pre-op, pre-operative; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SCD, sequential compression device; UFH, unfractionated heparin.