Economic Analysis of Low-Dose Heparin vs the Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Enoxaparin for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism After Colorectal Surgery
Open Access
- 14 June 1999
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of internal medicine (1960)
- Vol. 159 (11) , 1221-1228
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.159.11.1221
Abstract
COLORECTAL surgery is associated with a high risk of venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).1 Low-dose heparin is the most widely accepted method of preventing venous thromboembolism in general surgery because it is effective, safe, feasible, and economically attractive, compared with no prophylaxis.2,3 However, approximately 10% to 15% of patients who undergo colorectal surgery will develop venous thromboembolism despite the use of low-dose heparin prophylaxis.4 Approximately 120,000 patients had colorectal surgery for colorectal cancer in 1990 in North America,5 and many others had surgery for inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions, so identifying the most effective and economically attractive method of thromboembolism prophylaxis is an important goal.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: