Use of the inferior vena cava clip in patients at high risk for pulmonary embolism.

Sixteen gynecologic oncology patients at high risk of developing a postoperative pulmonary embolism underwent prophylactic clipping of the inferior vena cava during laparotomy for tumor resection. All patients had a prior history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism or had an active deep venous thrombosis at the time of their surgery. Additionally, this group of 16 patients was characterized as being at high risk for recurrent thrombosis in the postoperative period based on traditional risk factors that are representative of most gynecologic oncology patients. The Adams-DeWeese or Moretz clip was used in this series. There were no pulmonary emboli in our 16 patients in the postoperative period or during follow-up. There were no signs of venous stasis attributable to clip placement. The procedure was quick, simple, and complication free and the external clip has the advantage of maintaining effectiveness throughout the patient's lifetime. Prophylactic clipping of the inferior vena cava at the time of laparotomy in patients at an increased risk of thrombosis deserves further study.