[Preventive treatment of thrombo-embolism in general surgery. A report of 5 242 observations (author's transl)].

5 242 patients in a ward of general surgery have been submitted to prevention by subcutaneous injection of calcium heparinate. In all coagulolytic balance has been measured by thromboelastogram on whole blood. The aim was to reduce any hypercoagulability and maintain orthocoagulability. Three fourths of the patients had preoperative hypercoagulability, which may be responsible of precocious migrations. Except emergency, this hypercoagulability was first treated. The heparin dosis was scheduled according to age, weight and degree of hypercoagulability, and the treatment maintained at least 15 days. These are the results: thromboembolism 2,48 % (lethal 0,76 %). All registered accidents were the consequence of gross error. Heparinotherapy has been stopped in only 3 patients; there was no special hemorrhage during operation.