Mitral Commissurotomy Performed During Anticoagulant Prophylaxis with Dicumarol

Since it is possible to perform major surgical interventions on patients with lowered prothrombin-proconvertin concentration we have selected a group of patients suffering from mitral stenosis for further evaluation of this prophylactic measure. These patients are highly predisposed to thromboembolic complications. The controllable risk of hemorrhage might, therefore, be preferred to the heavy risk of thrombosis. The results of our investigations indicate a decrease in incidents of thromboembolism. No serious risk of bleeding is apparently introduced when an accurate and sensitive method of estimating the prothrombin level is used in the control of the treatment.