Related Experiment Videos
Subcutaneous ancrod in prevention of deep vein thrombosis after hip replacement surgery
Insights
Ancrod significantly reduced major femoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in hip replacement patients. However, it did not affect overall DVT rates and increased wound bleeding risks.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Vascular Surgery
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a significant risk following hip replacement surgery.
- Prophylaxis is crucial to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.
- Ancrod is an anticoagulant agent investigated for thrombotic event prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ancrod in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) post-hip replacement.
- To compare ancrod's effectiveness against a placebo in a randomized controlled trial.
Main Methods:
- A randomized double-blind controlled trial involving 73 patients undergoing hip replacement.
- Patients received daily subcutaneous injections of either ancrod or saline (placebo).
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was assessed using bilateral ascending venography 7-19 days post-surgery.
Main Results:
- A significant reduction in major femoral DVT (≥5 cm) was observed in the ancrod group (5 thrombi) compared to the placebo group (18 thrombi; p<0.01).
- No significant difference in the overall frequency of DVT, including calf DVT, was found between the groups.
- Increased wound bleeding was noted in the ancrod group (4 patients) versus the placebo group (2 patients), with one severe bleeding event requiring treatment cessation.
Conclusions:
- Ancrod demonstrates efficacy in reducing major femoral DVT after hip replacement surgery.
- The overall prophylactic benefit of ancrod for DVT requires further investigation due to similar overall thrombi rates.
- Ancrod use is associated with an increased risk of wound bleeding, necessitating careful patient monitoring.
Abstract:
In a randomised double-blind controlled trial we have assessed the use of ancrod ('Arvin') in the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery. Thirty-five patients received daily subcutaneous injections of ancrod and 38 patients received saline injections. DVT was detected by bilateral ascending venography (67 patients) 7-19 days after surgery. The frequency of major femoral DVT (greater than or equal to 5 cm long) was significantly reduced from 18 thrombi in the limbs of the placebo group to 5 in the ancrod group (p less than 0.01). The overall frequency of thrombi including calf DVT was not significantly different between the two groups. Four patients within the ancrod group had evidence of wound bleeding, compared with 2 placebo patients. One patient had a bleeding event which was considered severe enough to require cessation of ancrod injections.