PREVENTION OF DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS IN NEUROSURGICAL PATIENTS - CONTROLLED, RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF EXTERNAL PNEUMATIC COMPRESSION BOOTS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 83  (3) , 354-358
Abstract
A prospective, randomized clinical trial in 95 patients undergoing neurosurgical operative procedures was performed to investigate the efficacy of external pneumatic compression (EPC) of the calves as compared with results in a control group that received no specific form of prophylaxis for prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The diagnosis of DVT was established by the 125I fibrinogen scan and radiographic contrast phlebography. EPC apparently provides significant protection against the development of DVT in comparison with results in the control group (P < 0.05). There were no known pulmonary emboli in any of the EPC-treated patients. There were no complications of EPC.