title: Role of calf muscle stimulation in the prevention of DVT in Indian patients undergoing surgeries for fractures around the hip.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The venous stasis of soleal vein during surgery may be an important factor in the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The stimulation of calf muscle during surgery may help in preventing DVT. The present study is conducted to evaluate the role of peroperative calf muscle electrostimulation in prevention of DVT in patients undergoing surgeries around the hip joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 200 patients undergoing surgeries around the hip joint. The patients having risk factors (such as previous myocardial infarction, malignancies, paraplegia or lower limb monoplegia, previous history of DVT or varicose veins, etc.) for the development of DVT were excluded. They were randomized into two groups: 100 cases were given peroperative calf muscle electrostimulation for DVT prophylaxis (Group A) and the remaining 100 patients were taken as controls without any prophylaxis (Group B). The color Doppler ultrasound was performed to exclude pre-existing DVT and on 7(th) day postoperative to find out the incidence of DVT in both the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients among Group A and six patients among Group B demonstrated DVT on ultrasonography, but the difference was not found to be statistically significant (P=0.279). None of the patients had any clinical evidence of DVT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of peroperative calf muscle electrostimulation for DVT prophylaxis remains controversial. The risk of developing DVT in patients undergoing surgeries around the hip joint is very less in patients analysed in our series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated LokNayak Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batra
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Mahesh Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Vinod K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Sharma