title: Failure of low-dose heparin to prevent significant thromboembolic complications in high-risk surgical patients: interim report of prospective trial. Groote Schuur Hospital Thromboembolus Study Group.
abstract: The efficacy of low-dose subcutaneous heparin (5000 IU eight-hourly) is being studied in a single-centre, prospective randomised trial of patients aged over 40 submitted to major elective intra-abdominal surgery. The trial end-points are the objectively defined incidence and extent of deep vein thrombosis (as seen on uptake of 125I-labelled fibrinogen, Doppler ultrasonography, and bilateral ascending phlebography) and non-fatal pulmonary embolus (as measured by preoperative spirometry and preoperative and postoperative chest radiography and perfusion lung scanning performed on a routine, unselected basis). An interim analysis of the first 200 patients indicates that low-dose heparin significantly reduces the incidence of calf-vein thrombosis but does not reduce the incidence of proximal segment thrombosis or non-fatal pulmonary embolism. Thus the routine use of low-dose heparin prophylaxis in all major surgical procedures in patients aged over 40 may not be advisable.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin