SARS-CoV-2 ups risk of post-surgery clots, major study finds

Patients with perioperative or recent infection may need special prophylactic regimens, surgeons say

Recent SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to surgery almost doubles the risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) and ups the risk of death compared with not having the infection, a major international study shows.

The UK-led study involving collaboration among 15,000 surgeons from 115 countries found adult patients who had experienced infection with the virus and developed VTE had a more than fivefold increased risk of death post-surgery.