title: Dihydroergotamine and the thromboprophylactic effect of dextran 70 in emergency hip surgery.
abstract: In a prospective randomized controlled trial treatment with a combination of dextran 70 and dihydroergotamine (DHE) was compared with the administration of dextran 70 alone as prophylaxis against postoperative thrombo-embolic complications in emergency hip surgery. Forty-five consecutive patients with a fractured hip entered the study. Twenty-one were randomized to prophylactic treatment with dextran 70 (group 1) and twenty-four patients received dextran 70 and DHE (group 2). Both regimens were initiated pre-operatively and the surgical and postoperative procedures were the same in the two groups. On the first and fourth postoperative day, Tc-plasmin scintigraphy of the lower extremities and pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy were performed to detect any deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary emboli. A total of 19 per cent of group 1 patients developed DVT and so did 25 per cent in group 2; this difference was not statistically significant. Of the detected DVT, 60 per cent were subclinical, and 7 per cent of the patients had minor pulmonary emboli, all of which were symptomless. No therapeutic difference could be demonstrated between the two regimens. A recent report claiming that adding DHE to the prophylactic administration of dextran 70 considerably reduces the incidence of postoperative DVT in emergency hip surgery is questioned.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003911:Dextrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; 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; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D004087:Dihydroergotamine