Prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis with dipyridamole and aspirin.

Abstract

One hundred and sixty patients have been studied in a controlled trial of two drugs which have been in combination to prevent postoperative-deep-vein thrombosis. Both the drugs, dipyridamole (Persantin) and aspirin, were given by mouth from the evening before operation and for seven days after operation. The radioactive fibrinogen test was used to diagnose thrombosis. Of the 85 patients in the control group 24 developed thrombosis (28%). Twelve out of 85 patients (14%) in the test group were found to have thrombosis. Similar significant differences in incidence were found in the various subgroups.