Prevalence of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Abdominoplasty Patients after COVID-19 Convalescence: An Alarming Flag.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of thrombotic manifestations during aesthetic procedures may be overwhelming, as it may endanger patients' lives. Lipoabdominoplasty is one of the precarious aesthetic treatments with risk for thrombosis. COVID-19 convalescent patients may have an abnormally high rate of thrombotic events, which should be studied further. Patients with a history of COVID-19 infection who undergo the aesthetic procedure may have a greater risk of thrombosis than non-COVID-19 patients who undergo lipoabdominoplasty.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty were followed retrospectively for the occurrence of thrombotic events postoperatively and their relationship to previous COVID-19 infection. The study design comprised an examination of their medical records for prior COVID-19 infection, a history of thrombotic events before, during, or following COVID-19 infection, and D-dimer levels during and after COVID-19 infection. Thrombotic signs were studied in COVID-19 convalescent and non-COVID-19 patients following lipoabdominoplasty. The universal prophylactic measures for anticoagulation were followed.

RESULTS

Four patients out of 37 (10.18%) had thrombotic manifestations, with a high incidence in the COVID-19 convalescent group. The occurrence rate in COVID-19 patients was 30.7%, much higher than the global rate (0.2%). The presence of D-dimers was discovered to be abundant.

CONCLUSION

Additional precautions should be taken to closely monitor patients with a prior history of COVID-19 infection who seek aesthetic surgery, particularly riskier procedures such as lipoabdominoplasty.