Postoperative deep venous thrombosis and infectious complications. A clinical study of patients undergoing...

The connection between deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and postoperative infectious complications (PIC) was studied in 170 patients (mean age 65.7 and 40--86 years) who had undergone open large bowel or rectal surgery. DVT was diagnosed by the 125I-fibrinogen method. DVT of the legs was found in 36 patients. In 58 patients with PIC the frequency of DVT in 41 patients receiving low-dose heparin was 29% and in 17 patients without heparin prophylaxis 71% (P less than 0.01). In 112 patients without infection the frequency of DVT in 98 patients receiving low-dose heparin was 12% and 14 patients without heparin prophylaxis 7%. The frequency of DVT was significantly lower in patients without infection compared to those with PIC (P less than 0.001). Serious DVTs were more common in patients with PIC compared to those without PIC (P less than 0.05). It is concluded that infections after open large bowel and rectal surgery is an important risk factor for the development of DVT. Low-dose heparin significantly reduces the frequency of DVT in infected patients.