In neurosurgical patients, the risk for venous thromboembolic events (VTE) is high due to the relatively long duration of surgery, the high occurrence of prolonged immobilization of patients due to paresis of the legs or intracranial pathology causing inability to mobilise2. Moreover, intracranial and intraspinal tumours and subarachnoid haemorrhage cause hypercoagulability, which increases the risk on VTE. There is a high degree of diversity in attributed risk on thrombosis in the neurosurgical patient cohort. Due to this diversity, insufficient power of performed studies and lack of careful phenotyping and description of risk factors in previous studies on deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, as yet the optimal DVT prophylaxis in neurosurgery remains unclear. A prospective randomized study with adequate power and detailed information on patient related factors (malignancy, subarachnoid haemorrhage, prevailing coagulopathies), type of surgery, duration of surgery, and postoperative immobilisation will allow us to identify the optimal treatment strategy for high risk neurosurgical patients.

In the current study all patients that fulfil the inclusion criteria will be subjected to post-operative systematic evaluation of VTE by echo-duplex investigation.

It is clear that thrombo-embolic prophylaxis is mandatory in neurosurgical interventions. The current prophylactic strategy using preoperatively started low molecular-weight heparine (LMWH) allows still a considerable number of thrombo-embolic complications, in particular in those patients that are subjected to prolonged neurosurgical interventions. Guidelines advise mechanical prophylaxis. However, these guidelines are based on literature with low grade of evidence. To achieve the highest grade of evidence we will randomize subsequent patients between intermittent compression stockings with preoperative LMWH prophylaxis, and LMWH as stand alone prophylaxis. The last, being the current state of practice in all neurosurgical patients in our ward, including the high thrombosis risk group. All patients will receive preoperatively started LMWH.

There is a high degree of diversity in attributed risk on thrombosis in the neurosurgical patient cohort. Due to this diversity, insufficient power of performed studies and lack of careful phenotyping and description of risk factors in previous studies on deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, as yet the optimal DVT prophylaxis in neurosurgery remains unclear. A prospective randomized study with adequate power and detailed information on patient related factors (malignancy, subarachnoid haemorrhage, prevailing coagulopathies), type of surgery, duration of surgery, and postoperative immobilisation will allow us to identify the optimal treatment strategy for high risk neurosurgical patients.

In the current study all patients that fulfil the inclusion criteria will be subjected to post-operative systematic evaluation of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) by echo-duplex investigation.

• 2. Goal of the study The primary goal of the current study is to investigate whether the combination of perioperative intermittent pneumatic compression and LMWH has a lower incidence of postoperative thrombo-embolic complications within a week after a high risk neurosurgical intervention in comparison to patients receiving merely LMWH prophylaxis.

Secondary research questions are:

• Is there a difference in number of patients with clinical symptoms of thromboembolus in patients receiving the combination of peroperative intermittent pneumatic compression of the lower limbs and LMWH in comparison to patients receiving merely LMWH prophylaxis in high risk neurosurgical patients, scored two months after surgery;
• What is the prevalence of VTE in high risk neurosurgical patients in the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) receiving LMWH prophylaxis;
• What are the risk factors for the prevalence of VTE in high risk neurosurgical patients in the LUMC;
• What is the incidence of bleeding complications in high risk neurosurgical patients in the LUMC receiving LMWH prophylaxis;
• Is there a difference in length of hospital stay in patients receiving the combination of peroperative intermittent pneumatic compression of the lower limbs and LMWH in comparison to patients receiving merely LMWH prophylaxis in high risk neurosurgical patients;
• Is there a difference in patient perceived recovery at discharge and at 2 month follow up in patients receiving the combination of perioperative intermittent pneumatic compression and LMWH in comparison to patients receiving merely LMWH prophylaxis in high risk neurosurgical patients;
• Is there a difference in Quality of life at discharge and at 2 month follow up in patients receiving the combination of perioperative intermittent pneumatic compression of the legs and LMWH in comparison to patients receiving merely LMWH prophylaxis in high-risk neurosurgical patients;
• Is it relevant to consider cost-effectiveness of the use of perioperative intermittent pneumatic compression of the legs and if so, what is the cost-effectiveness?
• 3. Randomized controlled trial This is a randomized controlled trial on high-risk neurosurgical patients in a University hospital (see inclusion and exclusion criteria) in which consecutive patients who meet the inclusion criteria are invited to participate in the trial. Clinical and demographic data are gathered, as well as surgical details and prevailing complications. Postoperative bleeding requiring secondary surgery or lengthening of hospital stay will be documented as a clinically relevant bleeding complication. All patients receive Fraxiparine 2850 IU (international units) daily, starting preoperatively compatible with current practice. At admission patients will be randomized to be subjected to perioperative (48 hrs) intermittent pneumatic compression or standard care. Following current guidelines in the LUMC the Fraxiparine dose is doubled to 5600 IU in patients with a weight above 100 kg.

All randomized patients will receive a postoperative doppler examination of the major veins of both lower limb in order to identify a possible VTE. A post-operative thrombo-embolic complication is defined as follows7:

1. Asymptomatic VTE confirmed by echo Doppler;
2. Symptomatic VTE confirmed by echo Doppler;
3. Symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) confirmed by CT scan
4. Fatal pulmonary embolism confirmed by autopsy

> 3.1 Population The neurosurgical patient has an increased risk on thrombo-embolic complications because he is subjected to an intervention that in general takes a long time and causes the patient to be immobilized during a longer period (during and directly after surgery). Moreover, the pathology is frequently carcinomatous, having an increased risk for thrombo-embolic events by nature. The in- and exclusion criteria are aiming at these properties of the patients. All consecutive patients that fulfil the criteria will be invited to participate in this study. In order to be included the patient has to sign an informed consent. Based on a power analysis 140 patients in both randomization arms have to be included (based on a VTE incidence of 15% which will decrease to 5% after treatment with intermittent pneumatic leg pumps during surgery; alpha 0.05, power 80%) to be able to obtain a significant effect.

Inclusion Criteria:• Intracranial surgery;

• Tumour surgery (spinal or intracranial);
• >180 min estimated surgical intervention time;
• >240 min time under anaesthesia;
• Spine trauma surgery;

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Age under 18 years;

  • Perioperative continuation of anti coagulant therapy indicated other than prophylactic LMWH;