title: Plasma cross-linked fibrin degradation products fraction D in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery.
abstract: In 18 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery we measured the plasma D-dimer concentration (EIA d-dimer kit) preoperatively, postoperatively, and on postoperative day 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The patients received thromboembolic prophylaxis with low-molecular weight heparin. All patients were screened with the 125I-fibrinogen uptake test. Preoperatively, the median plasma D-dimer concentration was 500 ng/ml (200-3200 ng/ml) rising to 1800 ng/ml (500-4600 ng/ml) (p less than 0.05) immediately postoperatively. The plasma D-dimer level increased further during the following days to a maximum of 4800 ng/ml (1600-8600 ng/ml) on the 6th postoperative day (p less than 0.01). One patient developed deep-venous thrombosis. The plasma D-dimer concentration of this patients was within the range of the other patients. In conclusion, the EIA D-dimer test does not seem to be a potential screening procedure for postoperative thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery 1, Kommunehospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hauch
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kølle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wille-Jørgensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nerstrøm
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Neerstrand
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012016:Reference Values; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D