[Risk of lung embolism following preventive intravenous use of heparin in polytraumatized patients].

The risk of thrombo-embolic complications in multiple injured patients is increased due to several pathophysiological factors. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of a continuous IV heparin prophylaxis (10000IE/24h) in polytraumatized patients. A post-mortem evaluation of 72 decreased patients out of 373 multiple trauma patients treated during 1984-1985 was performed. In one patient multiple major pulmonary emboli were found to contribute to his death. No deep vein thrombosis as well as no fulminant pulmonary embolism were found in any case.