Postoperative Deep Venous Thrombosis and Infectious Complications: A Clinical Study of Patients Undergoing Colo-Rectal Surgery

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Abstract
The connection between deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and postoperative infectious complications (PIC) was studied in 170 patients (mean age 65.7 and range 40–86 years) who had undergone open large bowel or rectal surgery. DVT was diagnosed by the 125I-fibrinogen method. DVT of the legs was found in 36 patients. In 58 patients with PIC the frequency of DVT in 41 patients receiving low-dose heparin was 29% and in 17 patients without heparin prophylaxis 71% (PPP<0.05). It is concluded that infections after open large bowel and rectal surgery is an important risk factor for the development of DVT. Low-dose heparin significantly reduces the frequency of DVT in infected patients.