title: Low molecular weight heparin in prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis in Asian general surgical patients: A Kashmir experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs at a lower rate in Asia than in the rest of the world. We wanted to study the significance and efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in prophylaxis of DVT in major general surgical patients in the Kashmir Valley (India, Asia) so as to make it a routine in our patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study in which the effect of LMWH was compared with no prophylaxis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LMWHs are more effective than no prophylaxis in the prevention of DVT and pulmonary thromboembolism in highest-risk general surgical patients (odds ratio = 16.64; 95% confidence interval = 3.63-1130.03; P-value = 0.014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LMWHs have a significant prophylactic effect on DVT in general surgical patients, with a higher benefit to risk ratio, and, in spite of the low incidence of DVT in Asia, its prophylaxis should routinely be considered in this part of the world as well, preferably in the form of LMWHs.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, SKIMS Soura, and SKIMS Medical College, Srinagar, J and K, India.
authors.forename: Tanveer Iqbal
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Dar
authors.forename: Khursheed Alam
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wani
authors.forename: Mohd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Aijaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Sanjeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Tariq A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gojwari
authors.forename: Arshad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iqbal