Deep vein thrombosis and low-dose heparin prophylaxis in neurosurgical patients

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Abstract
By the use of a 125I-labeled fibrinogen test, the incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and the effectiveness of prophylactic low-dose heparin treatment were investigated in 110 patients who underwent elective neurosurgical procedures. Fifty patients were appointed randomly to a control group and 50 to a heparin group (10 patients were exluded since they had DVT before surgery). The incidence of DVT was reduced from 34% in the control group to 6% in the heparin group (P < 0.005). No statistically significant differences were observed in transfusion requirements, postoperative Hb concentration and the occurrence of postoperative hematomas between the 2 groups. Positive correlation was observed between DVT and motor deficit (P < 0.05). Preoperative assessment of patients'' sensitivity to the standard 5000-unit dose of heparin was performed in all treated patients and is thought an important factor in improving the safety of heparin prophylaxis.