Heparin prophylaxis against fatal postoperative pulmonary embolism

Low-dose heparin prophylaxis against fatal pulmonary embolism has been studied in a random and prospective trial in 300 patients over the age of 50 who underwent major surgery. A dose of 5,000 IU mucous heparin sodium given two hours preoperatively and for five days post operatively prevented fatal pulmonary embolism in all 156 patients so treated, whereas out of 144 patients in the unheparinized group 6 (4.2%) died of pulmonary embolism. This difference is statistically significant. There was no increase in operative or post-operative bleeding or in the formation of wound haematomas in the heparinized group.