Prevention of deep venous thrombosis following total hip replacement, using epidural analgesia

Fifty-five patients undergoing total hip replacement using epidural analgesia were allocated to the combination of low dose heparin and dihydroergotamine (5.000 IU heparin and 0.5 mg dihydroergotamine given subcutaneously every twelve hours) (n = 27) or to placebo (n = 28). All patients wore thigh-length graded compression stockings. The patients were screened for deep venous thrombosis by means of the 99mTc-plasmin test and the diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis was confirmed by ascending phlebography. Three patients in each group developed unilateral deep-venous thrombosis. One patient in each group developed non-fatal pulmonary embolism.