[Study on postoperative deep venous thrombosis with reference to prevention]

Preventive effect of intermittent sequential pneumatic compression of the legs (ISPC) on the postoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was studied by 125I-fibrinogen uptake test in 64 surgical patients. Furthermore the mechanism of preventive effect by ISPC was analysed from the point of view of coagulation and fibrinolytic activity in 78 patients. Following results were obtained. 1) The incidence of DVT in control group was 18.0 percent, while it was 6.3 percent in ISPC group (p less than 0.01). 2) The euglobulin lysis time in ISPC group was significantly shorter than that of control group on the first postoperative day (p less than 0.01). 3) There were no definite changes in plasminogen and B beta 15-42 peptide between control group and ISPC group. 4) There were no complications in using of ISPC. This study demonstrates that ISPC has a dual action; (1) mechanical prevention of venous stasis and (2) fibrinolytic acceleration. ISPC are effective for prevention of postoperative DVT.