A multicentre study on LMW-heparin effectiveness in preventing postsurgical thrombosis

A multicentric study was carried out involving six italian departments of general surgery to assess the efficacy of a low molecular weight (LMW) heparin called Fluxum compared to standard calcium heparin in low doses for prevention of postoperative thromboembolic complications (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism). 610 patients were treated; 308 (50.5%) of whom were treated with Fluxum at doses of 4,000 or 8,000 I.U. Axa once a day by subcutaneous injection and 302 (49.5%) with heparin calcium at doses of 5,000 I.U. two or three times a day by subcutaneous injection. We observed a total of 29 deep vein thrombosis (4.7%); 10 (3.2%) from the group treated with LMW heparin and 19 (6.3%) from the comparative group. During the study 4 (0.65%) pulmonary embolism were found, 1 (0.32%) in the group treated with LMW heparin and 3 (1%) in the group treated with calcium heparin. None serious hemorrhagic accident was reported during the study. The antithrombotic prophy laxis carried out with Fluxum was on the whole better tolerated than the treatment of the other group, registering a lower frequency of hematomas at the injection and surgical wound sites.