Research Article
Postoperative deep vein thrombosis: identifying high-risk patients.
Br Med J 1980; 281 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.281.6236.343 (Published 02 August 1980) Cite this as: Br Med J 1980;281:343
- A J Crandon,
- K R Peel,
- J A Anderson,
- V Thompson,
- G P McNicol
Abstract
A prospective study was carried out to confirm the validity of a predictive index for patients at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. The index, which correctly identified nine out of 10 patients and incorrectly identified seven out of 52 patients as being at risk, is based on five variable--namely, the euglobulin lysis time, serum concentration of fibrin-related antigen, age, percentage overweight for height, and presence of varicose veins. Thus a population of patients at particularly high risk of developing postoperative deep vein thrombosis may be identified preoperatively by means of this index, so that prophylaxis may be used more rationally.