Prevention of thrombosis with vitamin K after hip arthroplasty
Søballe, K.; Christensen, F.; Jønsson, B.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 149(28): 1877-1879
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3433397 Document Number: 288451
Regulation with an oral anticoagulant employed as a short-term thromboembolic prophylaxis was investigated in 187 consecutive patients submitted to total hip arthroplasty. Twelve patients were overdosed and 16 were briedly overdosed. In half of the remaining patients, the prothrombin-proconvertin values fluctuated several times between therapeutic and non-therapeutic levels. Only 24% were in the therapeutic level after administration for three days and remained in the therapeutic range during the remainder of the therapeutic period. Short-term thromboembolic prophylaxis with vitamin K antagonists is not regulated satisfactorily by control of the coagulation factors at intervals of three days and with several different doctors being responsible for the dosage. The extent to which the method may be improved is not yet elucidated. However, stricter laboratory control and fewer doctors responsible for the dosage should be considered.