Heparin with and without dihydroergotamine in prevention of thromboembolic complications of major abdominal surgery. A randomized trial.
We compared the results of dihydroergotamine mesylate administered with low-dose heparin sodium with those of low-dose heparin given alone in a randomized trial based on 181 patients who underwent major abdominal surgery. We found no significant difference in the incidence of thromboembolism between the two groups but a higher incidence of abnormal fibrinogen uptake test results in patients given heparin alone. There was no difference in hemoglobin levels and the number of blood transfusions. We concluded that there is little, if any, clinical advantage in adding dihydroergotamine to low-dose heparin to prevent thromboembolic complications in patients who have undergone major abdominal surgery.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004087:Dihydroergotamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
D004087:Dihydroergotamine; D006493:Heparin