Low Dose Heparin Prevents Postoperative Deep Vein Thrombosis And graded compression stockings are equally effective

97 patients> 40 years old undergoing elective general surgery requiring> 1 hour of general anaesthesia were randomly allocated, as prophylaxis for postoperative deep vein thrombosis, either subcutaneous sodium heparin 5000IU 12·hourly plus an additional dose 2·3 hours before surgery (n :::: 45) or graded compression stockings (0 = 52). Therapy was started on the evening before surgery and con tinued until the patients were mobile (~ 5 days).

There was no significant difference between treatments in the incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (8.9% in the heparin-treated group vs 5.8% in the stockings group). Similarly, preoperative and postoperative haemoglobin concentrations , volume of peroperal ive bleeding and total number of blood transfusions required were similar in both groups and there were no major haemorrhagic complications.

In conclusion, ' ... graded compression stockings are an altemative to heparin for the prevention of postoperative DVT (deep vein thrombosis, following etective, general surgery, and have the advantage of being simple with a low incidence of stde eHects'. The only side effect experienced by heparin-treated patients in this study was 'discomfort from the injections·,

F"""9. M" Andersen, K .. Krsemmef ~ H.. Husted. S.E.; KoopmafJ. H_D . • r.s .. Acla CllirurglCa Scandinavica lSI: 245-248 (No 3. 1985)

8 INPHAAMA& 21 Sep 1985 Ol56_2703/ 85/ 092J.(XI08/0$OI .OO/ O co ADfS Press