Alterations in Plasma Antithrombin III Following Total Hip Replacement and Elective Cholecystectomy

Abstract
Antithrombin III (AT III) activity and immunoreactive AT III were determined in 31 patients before elective surgery and 3 h, 1, 3 and 7 days after. The values fell about 10-20% from 3 h to 3 days but returned to preoperative levels by the 7th day. A fall to 40% was seen. The fall in activity was a little smaller than the fall in immunoreactive protein. [Preoperative AT III level correlates to development of deep vein thrombosis. Total hip replacement is a high risk operation with regard to development of deep vein thrombosis in the postoperative period.].