Prevention of thromboembolism in hip-fracture patients. Comparison of low-dose heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin combined with dihydroergotamine

• Published in: Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery Vol. 108; no. 1; pp. 10 - 13
• Main Authors: Lassen, M R, Borris, L C, Christiansen, H M, Møller-Larsen, F, Knudsen, V E, Boris, P, Nehen, A M, Jurik, A G, de Carvalho, A, Nielsen, B W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 1989
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dihydroergotamine - administration & dosage; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Female; Heparin - administration & dosage; Hip Fractures - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Weight; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Prospective Studies; Random Allocation; Thromboembolism - etiology; Thromboembolism - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0936-8051; 1434-3916
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00934150

In a prospective, double-blind, controlled study, we compared the antithrombotic efficacy of low-dose heparin with dihydroergotamine (A), low-molecular-weight heparin with dihydroergotamine (B), and placebo (C). Two hundred and thirteen patients surgically treated for fractures of the hip were randomly divided into three groups. One hundred and sixty-one patients were analyzed. All thrombi were verified by ascending phlebography. Nine patients died within 1 month after operation. A and B proved to be equally safe but failed to provide any protection against deep-vein thrombosis, although B showed a tendency to reduce the incidence. Mortality within 1 month of operation was unaffected by the type of prophylaxis.