Prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis in colorectal surgery

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Abstract
A group of 230 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery was analyzed for the presence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Prophylaxis against DVT was practiced with low-dose heparin (either 5000 IU every 8 h or 5000 IU every 12 h for 7 days) in 199 patients. Prevention of infection was attempted with preoperative administration of Enterobiotic [oxytetracycline and neomycin] in 155 patients and of Vibramycin [doxycycline] in 11 patients. DVT was diagnosed in 46 patients. The frequency of DVT did not differ significantly between patients who underwent resections of the colon and those who underwent rectal surgery. DVT was diagnosed in 27 of the 73 infected patients, which was significantly higher than the incidence of 19 with DVT among the 157 uninfected patients. The frequency of DVT among patients in the 2 heparin regimens was 15 and 17%, respectively, which was significantly lower than with untreated patients. No lethal pulmonary embolism was found and no patient showed clinical signs of embolism. Measures aimed at reducing postoperative infection, combined with low-dose heparin, will probably reduce the incidence of postoperative DVT after colorectal surgery.