Prevention of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis by low-dose heparin in open prostatectomy.

A double-blind trial was designed to investigate the efficacy of low-dose heparin in preventing deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) after open prostatectomy... The diagnosis of DVT was established by the 125I-fibrinogen test. The incidence of DVT was 39.4% in the control group (33 patients) and 9.7% in the heparin group (31 patients) (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that low-dose heparin effectively prevents DVT after open prostatectomy

Bronchopulmonary infection due to Branhamella catarrhalis: 11 cases assessed by transtracheal puncture.

Transtracheal punctures were performed in 193 miners of anthracosilicotic coal who presented with an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. The transtracheal aspirates were bacteriologically positive in 104 patients. Branhamella catarrhalis was isolated in 15 patients; 10 of these responded to chemotherapy, as shown by the resolution of all symptoms and the disappearance of the organism on a repeat transtracheal puncture performed 48 hours after the end of treatment. One ampicillin-treated patient, whose bronchial secretions yielded a beta-lactamase-producing B catarrhalis, showed no improvement. But subsequent treatment with cefuroxime was followed by clinical and bacteriological recovery. B catarrhalis probably acted as an opportunistic respiratory pathogen in these patients, who were probably compromised hosts in view of their clinical history. B catarrhalis normally responds to the penicillins commonly used for respiratory infections, but if treatment fails a transtracheal puncture is essential to identify the strain and determine an appropriate antibiotic.

Prevention of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis by low-dose heparin in urological surgery. A double-blind, randomised study.

The efficacy of low-dose heparin in preventing deep-vein thrombosis (D. V. T.) after urological surgery was investigated in a double-blind trial. Thromboses were detected by the 125I-labelled fibrinogen technique. The incidence of D. V. T. was 36% in the control group (25 patients) and 9% in the treated group (22 patients) (p less than 0.05). Contrary to the current opinion this form of prophylaxis was effective following open prostatectomy.

[Prophylaxis of postoperative deep vein thromboses by means of weak doses of subcutaneous heparin (author's transl)]. / Prophylaxie par l'héparine sous-cutanée à faibles doses des thromboses veineuses postopératoires

The authors intend to control with the marked fibrinogen test, the real frequency of postoperative deep vein thromboses (DVT) and the eventual prophylactic effect of subcutaneous heparin in weak doses. Heparin was administered 2 hours before the operation and every 8 hours during 6 days thereafter, each time at the dose of 5,000 U subcutaneously. Ninety-nine patients undergoing major surgery were randomized into two groups of 55 control operated patients and 44 operated patients treated with heparin. The radioactive fibrinogen test was used in 27 patients of the control group and in 23 of the treated group. In the control group of 55, 7 DVT were clinically recognized : the isotopic test was positive in 17 patients. In the treated group of 44 no DVT was clinically diagnosed : 6 DVT were recognized by the marked fibrinogen test. There were no noticeable hemorrhagic complications in the treated group. Low dose of subcutaneous heparin is an efficient and safe prophylactic method in postoperative thromboembolic accidents.