[Acute surgery in heart surgery patients under preventive use of anticoagulants]

Studies were conducted into indications, courses of operations, and postoperative complications of 17 surgical patients hospitalised or treated in the outpatient department who were on anticoagulant medication because of previous cardiac surgery and required acute re-operations for manifestations of secondary surgical diseases. Particular attention was given to Quick values for an assessment of the present coagulation situations. The point is made that Quick values between 25 and 30 per cent do not yet constitute contraindications to surgical intervention. Reservation is recommended with values below 20 per cent. Therapeutic recommendations are given for treatment of surgical patients with low Quick values.