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Prolonged prophylaxis with dalteparin to prevent late thromboembolic complications in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a multicenter randomized open‐label study
Author(s) -
RASMUSSEN M. S.,
JORGENSEN L. N.,
WILLEJØRGENSEN P.,
NIELSEN J. D.,
HORN A.,
MOHN A. C.,
SØMOD L.,
OLSEN B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.02153.x
Subject(s) - medicine , abdominal surgery , venography , randomized controlled trial , surgery , clinical endpoint , relative risk , confidence interval , anesthesia , thrombosis
Summary. Background: Patients undergoing major abdominal surgery carry a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the optimal duration of postoperative thromboprophylaxis is unknown. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thromboprophylaxis with the low molecular weight heparin (dalteparin), administered for 28 days after major abdominal surgery compared to 7 days’ treatment. Patients/Methods: A multicenter, prospective, assessor‐blinded, open‐label, randomized trial was performed in order to evaluate prolonged thromboprophylaxis after major abdominal surgery. In total, 590 patients were recruited, of whom 427 were randomized and received at least 1 day of study medication, and 343 reached an evaluable endpoint. The primary efficacy endpoint was objectively verified VTE occurring between 7 and 28 days after surgery. All patients underwent bilateral venography at day 28. Results: The cumulative incidence of VTE was reduced from 16.3% with short‐term thromboprophylaxis (29/178 patients) to 7.3% after prolonged thromboprophylaxis (12/165) (relative risk reduction 55%; 95% confidence interval 15–76; P = 0.012). The number that needed to be treated to prevent one case of VTE was 12 (95% confidence interval 7–44). Bleeding events were not increased with prolonged compared with short‐term thromboprophylaxis. Conclusions: Four‐week administration of dalteparin, 5000 IU once daily, after major abdominal surgery significantly reduces the rate of VTE, without increasing the risk of bleeding, compared with 1 week of thromboprophylaxis.