Dicumarol Therapy in Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

AMONG the more serious threats to the life of the decompensated cardiac patient are thrombosis and embolism, and some means of combating these phenomena are a very pressing need in cardiovascular therapeutics. Recent work with anticoagulant agents1 , 2 in postoperative patients, in cases of myocardial infarction and in cases of thrombophlebitis suggests that the use of dicumarol offers a safe and effective method of preventing such accidents. To test the effectiveness of this drug, all patients admitted to the Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, because of cardiac decompensation have been treated with dicumarol since October, 1946. The present report is a preliminary . . .