Prevention of thromboembolism in hip-fracture patients. Comparison of low-dose heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin combined with dihydroergotamine.
In a prospective, double-blind, controlled study, we compared the antithrombotic efficacy of low-dose heparin with dihydroergotamine (A), low-molecular-weight heparin with dihydroergotamine (B), and placebo (C). Two hundred and thirteen patients surgically treated for fractures of the hip were randomly divided into three groups. One hundred and sixty-one patients were analyzed. All thrombi were verified by ascending phlebography. Nine patients died within 1 month after operation. A and B proved to be equally safe but failed to provide any protection against deep-vein thrombosis, although B showed a tendency to reduce the incidence. Mortality within 1 month of operation was unaffected by the type of prophylaxis.
Lassen
M R
MR
Department of Orthopedics, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
Borris
L C
LC
Christiansen
H M
HM
Møller-Larsen
F
F
Knudsen
V E
VE
Boris
P
P
Nehen
A M
AM
Jurik
A G
AG
de Carvalho
A
A
Nielsen
B W
BW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D004087:Dihydroergotamine; D006493:Heparin