[Heparin in the prevention of thromboembolism after elective hip-joint operations (author's transl)]

Using the 125I-fibrinogen test, the antithrombotic effect of three different heparin schedules was examined in 113 patients untergoing elective hip surgery. Low-dose heparin (3 X 5000 IU/24 h) reduced the incidence of postoperative thrombosis from 60% in the control subjects (not receiving any heparin) to 33%. Combined low-dose heparin and acetylsalicyl-lysine, given intravenously, further reduced the incidence slightly to 27%. Increasing the heparin dosage postoperatively to 3 X 7500 IU/24 h effectively prevented the incidence of thrombosis by reducing it to 11% in these high-risk patients.