title: A prospective randomized trial of low molecular weight heparin-DHE and conventional heparin-DHE (with acenocoumarol) in patients undergoing gynaecological surgery.
abstract: The antithromboembolic efficacy of once a day low molecular weight heparin in fixed combination with dihydroergotamine (LMWH-DHE) was compared with conventional heparin-DHE in combination with Acenocoumarol (heparin-DHE/A) in 191 patients undergoing gynaecological surgery. LMWH-DHE proved equally effective in preventing thromboembolic complications, with a similar incidence of postoperative bleeding and side effects. Deep vein thrombosis occurred once in each group and one non-fatal pulmonary embolism occurred in the LMWH-DHE group. The main advantage of LMWH-DHE was significantly better patient acceptance of the single daily subcutaneous injection as compared with the two injections of conventional heparin-DHE (P = 0.02). On the other hand, LMWH-DHE was associated with significantly increased incidence of intraoperative bleeding (P less than 0.02). The bleeding did not, however, cause any clinical problems. Discontinuation of therapy due to bleeding or pain at the site of injection occurred three times in each group. We consider the use of LMWH-DHE to be an attractive, economic and safe method of thromboembolic prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lüscher
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Schreiner
mesh_terms: D000074:Acenocoumarol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; C031388:heparin-dihydergot; D004087:Dihydroergotamine; D006493:Heparin; D000074:Acenocoumarol