[Study on the prevention of deep venous thrombosis in surgery]

In a survey of the use of methods for prevention of postoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) performed in French speaking Switzerland, a questionnaire was sent to 380 surgeons and 316 answers (83%) were received. Systematic prevention is performed by 75% of the surgeons; it is performed by 89% of orthopedic surgeons, 66% of abdominal surgeons and 76% of obstetricians. Low dose heparin is use dy 75% of general and orthopedic surgeons and by 50% of the obstetricians. 40% of the surgeons believe that preventive methods cause untoward side effects. Only 55% of orthopedic surgeons believe in the effectiveness of the prevention they are using. Prevention of DVT is more systematically carried on in Switzerland than in other Western countries, especially in high risk surgery. However, surgeons are aware of the imperfection of this prevention.