The effect of electrical stimulation of the legs on postoperative thrombosis

Abstract

Abstract Stimulation of the muscles of the lower limbs during surgery was evaluated as a means of preventing postoperative leg-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Of 285 patients submitted to a major operation, 113 were stimulated and 172 were not. The two groups were closely similar in age, operations, anaesthesia, diseases, and severity of disease, but there was a negligeible difference in the rates of postoperative thrombosis.