[Prevention of thromboembolism with low-molecular-weight heparin in ambulatory surgery and unoperated surgical and orthopedic patients]

Abstract

Prophylaxis of thromboembolism is now well established in orthopaedic outpatients with plaster cast and after elective hip surgery. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of out-of-hospital prevention of venous thromboembolism and to determine the incidence of thromboembolic complications in orthopaedic and surgical patients with or without surgical intervention on an out-patient basis during prophylaxis of thromboembolism with low-molecular-weight heparin and to study the feasibility of this treatment regimen. The treatment period was 1-4 weeks (mean 17 days). Main indications for prophylaxis of thromboembolism were arthroscopy and surgical or non-surgical intervention of bone fractures of the lower leg. The incidence of clinically diagnosed venous thromboembolism was 11/1604 (0.7%) in operated and 8/1017 (0.8%) in non-operated patients. Pulmonary embolism occurred twice in operated patients (0.1%) and in none of the non-operated patients. Minor bleeding complications were rare and major bleeding complications did not occur. Haematomas at the injection site occurred in only 4% of patients. Thrombocytopenia did not occur in any patient. The present study demonstrates the feasibility and safety to prophylaxis of thromboembolism with low-molecular-weight heparin in orthopaedic operated and non-operated out-patients with various orthopaedic or surgical diseases leading to immobilization. The incidence of clinically apparent thromboembolic complications is low and similar to medical bedridden inpatients.