SMALL DOSES OF SUBCUTANEOUS SODIUM HEPARIN IN PREVENTING DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS AFTER MAJOR SURGERY

Abstract The efficacy of small doses of peri-operative subcutaneous heparin in preventing deep venous thrombosis has been studied in a controlled clinical trial involving 251 patients undergoing major operations. The results indicate that the regimen of sodium heparin used was safe. It reduced the frequency of postoperative deep venous thrombosis from 24% in the control group to 0·8% in the test group as detected by the 125 I-fibrinogen test. In addition it reduced the frequency of the dangerous extensive thrombi often responsible for pulmonary emboli from 7.4% to nil