[Low-dose heparin and acetyl-salicylic acid after elective operations on the hip joint (author's transl)]

Abstract

3.6 g acetylsalicylic lysin was injected into 30 patients daily after operative replacement of the hip-joint. Pulmonary embolism and (or) deep-vein thrombosis were diagnosed in 19 patients. Low-dose heparin (3 X 5000 IU/24 h) significantly reduced the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (ten of thirty patients: P less than 0.05) compared with the acetylsalicylic acid group. The results demonstrate not only the inadequate thrombosis prophylaxis provided by acetylsalicylic acid, but also that low-dose heparin prophylaxis in these specially at risk patients is of limited efficacy.