Effect of low-dose heparin and dihydroergotamine on frequency of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis in patients undergoing post-traumatic hip surgery.

The effect of low doses of heparin (5000 units of sodium heparin every 12 hours for 10 days) and dihydroergotamine (DHE) (0.5 mg at the same intervals as heparin) on the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (D.V.T.) in the legs was studied on 210 patients undergoing nailing of a fractured neck of the femur. The patients were allocated randomly to receive heparin (70 patients) or heparin + dihydroergotamine (71 patients) or saline (69 patients, acting as controls). D.V.T. developed in 15 patients in the heparin group, in 12 patients in heparin + DHE group and in 28 patients in the control group. There is a significant difference between the two groups receiving heparin on the one hand and the control group on the other. DHE does not seem to reduce the incidence of D.V.T. any further in this group of patients.