INCREASED ACTIVATION OF COAGULATION AND FORMATION OF LATE DEEP VENOUSTHROMBOSIS FOLLOWING DISCONTINUATION OF THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS AFTER HIP-REPLACEMENT SURGERY

Hip replacement surgery (HRS) is associated with a high frequency of d eep vein thrombosis (DVT). At the same time there is a substantial sys temic and local activation of coagulation. This study indicates that d iscontinuation of thromboprophylaxis one week after surgery may allow a second wave of coagulation and fibrinolysis activation to occur. An almost parallel increase in plasma TAT and D-dimer levels between the 6th and the 35th postoperative day may indicate late DVT formation. Re peated bilateral ascending venography is thought to be necessary to ev aluate the suitability of using selected activation markers of the coa gulation and fibrinolytic systems as indices of DVT formation.