Prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis in high risk patients undergoing total hip replacement with low molecular weight heparin plus dihydroergotamine
Haas, S.; Stemberger, A.; Fritsche, H.M.; Welzel, D.; Wolf, H.; Lechner, F.; Blümel, G.
Arzneimittel-Forschung 37(7): 839-843
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4172 PMID: 2823840 Document Number: 294753
In 160 high risk patients with total hip replacement the antithrombotic efficacy and tolerance of a single daily injection of 1500 aPTT-U (aPTT = activated partial thromboplastin time) low molecular weight heparin plus 0.5 mg dihydroergotamine (HNMD; Embolex NM) was compared with a twice daily application of 5000 IU of the heparin-dihydroergotamine combination Heparin-Dihydergot in a double-blind study. Deep vein thrombosis measured by means of the radiofibrinogen uptake test occurred in 20.5% of patients in both groups. In addition, intra- and postoperative blood loss and the development of hematoma were similar in both groups. Thus, on account of the "once-daily" application HNMD offers some substantial advantages: The stress of the patient in the postoperative convalescence phase can be appreciably lowered and thereby the nursing staff are spared a great deal of work.