This randomized prospective study examines the efficacy of intravenously administered
heparin as prophylaxis against
deep-vein thrombosis, detected isotopically with
iodine 125, in 37 patients scheduled to undergo major abdominal procedures. Twenty patients were given 5000 units of
sodium heparin on opening the abdominal cavity, while 17 patients who did not receive
heparin acted as controls. The effect of
heparin was reversed at the end of the operative procedure by
protamine. Three control patients had
deep-vein thrombosis postoperatively but only one
heparin-treated patient did. Complications in the treated group included excessive blood loss intraoperatively in one patient and an
incisional hernia postoperatively in another. Although the results are not statistically significant, this study suggests that a single dose of
heparin given intravenously during operation is a safe and effective means of prophylaxis against
deep-vein thrombosis in patients who undergo general
surgical procedures. Studies are now being carried out to determine the optimal dose of
heparin, time of administration and duration of anticoagulation.