Nebulized heparin and anabolic steroid in the prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis following elective abdominal surgery.

One hundred eighty three patients, all over 40 years old, who underwent major abdominal surgery, were randomized into 3 groups: Group I received a single dose of nebulized heparin (800 IU per kg b.w.) administered by inhalation one day prior to surgery. Group II besides the above, also received a single injection of 50 mg of long acting anabolic steroid (nandrolone phenylpropionate) intramuscularly. Group III received 5000 IU heparin subcutaneously on hr prior to surgery as well as every 12 h for the next 5 postoperative days. Postoperatively the patients were evaluated for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using the 125-I-fibrinogen test. The occurrence of DVT was determined as: in Group I--16%, in Group II--7.9%, in Group III--7.8%. Haemorrhagic complications (clinically important) were observed in 7.8% of patients from Group III, but only in 1.7% of patients in Group I and 1.6% in Group II. For DVT prophylaxis following abdominal surgery a single application of nebulized heparin and long acting anabolic steroid is as effective as conventional low-dose subcutaneous heparin administration, but gives less haemorrhagic complications. This method is also more advantagenous in term of acceptance by the patients and represents considerable saving of nursing time.