Abstract
All 236 clinics in Sweden dealing with general, urologic, orthopedic, and gynecologic surgery were sent a questionnaire concerning their policy about prophylaxis against postoperative thromboembolism and 94% replied. Of these, 76% claimed that they use some kind of prophylaxis. Decisive factors for the adoption of routine prophylaxis and prophylactic methods in current use varied among the 4 surgical specialties surveyed. In spite of the evidence that age is the most important single risk factor for thromboembolic complications, only 45% of the clinics considered age to be important. The estimated frequency of prophylaxis among patients undergoing operations was only 19%. Side effects of prophylaxis were reported in 55% of the clinics. Dextran 70 and low-dose heparin were the most frequently used prophylactic methods.
Résumé
Un questionnaire concernant la prophylaxie des thrombo-embolies postopératoires a été envoyé aux 236 hôpitaux de Suède qui font de la chirurgie générale, urologique, orthopédique et gynécologique; 94% ont répondu; parmi ceux-ci, 76% utilisent l’une ou l’autre forme de prévention. Les facteurs qui mènent à adopter une prophylaxie de routine et les thérapeutiques préventives couramment utilisées sont variables dans les 4 spécialités chirurgicales envisagées. Bien que l’âge soit, de toute èvidence, l’élément de risque le plus important, il n’est pris en considération que par 45% des hôpitaux. En postopératoire, la prophylaxie n’est utilisée que dans 19% des cas. Des effets secondaires sont signalés par 55% des hôpitaux. Les thérapeutiques préventives le plus fréquemment utilisées sont le Dextrane 70 et l’héparine à faible dose.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Morris, G.K., Mitchell, J.R.A.: Prevention and diagnosis of venous thrombosis in patients with hip fractures. A survey of current practice. Lancet2:867, 1976
Simon, T., Stengle, J.: Antithrombotic practice in orthopedic surgery. Results of a survey. Clin. Orthop.102:181, 1974
Nicolaides, A.N., Irving, D.: Clinical factors and the risk of deep venous thrombosis. In Thromboembolism. Etiology, Advances in Prevention and Management, Nicolaides, A.N., editor, Baltimore, University Park Press, 1975
Havig, Ö.: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. An autopsy study with multiple regression analysis of possible risk factors. Acta Chir. Scand. [Suppl.]478:1, 1977
Mühe, E., Burghardt, K.-H., Kolb, W., Strobel, G.: Eine neue Methode zur Prophylaxe postoperativer Venenthrombosen. Klinikarzt4:88, 1975
Sagar, S., Stamatakis, J.D., Higgins, A.F., Nairn, D., Maffei, F.H., Thomas, D.P., Kakkar, V.V.: Efficacy of low-dose heparin in prevention of extensive deepvein thrombosis in patients undergoing total hip replacement. Lancet1:1151, 1976
Holford, C.P.: Graded compression for preventing deep venous thrombosis. Br. Med. J.2:969, 1976
Scurr, J.H., Ibrahim, S.Z., Faber, R.G., Le Quense, L.P.: The efficacy of graduated compression stockings in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Br. J. Surg.64:371, 1971
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bergqvist, D. Prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in Sweden results of a survey. World J. Surg. 4, 489–493 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393188
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02393188