THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS BY LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGH T HEPARIN - A RETROSPECTIVESTUDY ON 1123 PATIENTS FOLLOWING ORTHOPEDIC-SURGERY

The effectiveness of the low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) Fragmin P 2,500 IU is examined with a retrospective study. Altogether, the data of 1,123 patients are examined after orthopaedic operations of a lowe r extremity, 584 patients were treated with Fragmin P once a day on a stationary and out-patient basis. 539 patients were treated with a low -dose heparinization only during the stationary period. Fragmin P is s ignificantly superior to the low-dose heparinization during the statio nary period, in the LMWH group, thromboembolic complications occurred stationarily in 1% of the cases and on an out-patient basis in 0.8%. I n the control group, however, the complication quota was 1.8% in the s tationary period and 2% in the out-patient period. No pulmonary emboli occurred in the LMWH group, compared to 7 pulmonary emboli in the con trol group. The study clearly confirms the importance of thromboprophy laxis with LMWH in out-patients with relief of one lower extremity as well as it confirms the effectiveness of Fragmin P 2,500 IU in compari son to the low-dose heparinization.