Chandhoke PS, Gooding GA, Narayan P.
Prospective randomized trial of warfarin and intermittent pneumatic leg compression
as prophylaxis for postoperative deep venous thrombosis in major urological surgery.
J Urol 1992 Apr; 147(4):1056-9

Department of Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.

Postoperative deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus remain a major source of
morbidity and mortality for the urological surgery patient. We report the results
of the first 100 patients in a prospective, randomized trial of low dose warfarin
and intermittent pneumatic leg compression for deep venous thrombosis
prophylaxis. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative real-time
ultrasound imaging and Doppler flow studies of the popliteal, femoral and iliac
veins for the evaluation of deep venous thrombosis. Our results indicate that low
dose warfarin is as effective as intermittent pneumatic leg compression for
prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis. Low dose warfarin can be used effectively
without any significant bleeding complications. We recommend the use of low dose
warfarin as an alternative to intermittent pneumatic leg compression for deep
venous thrombosis prophylaxis of the urological patient undergoing a major
urological operation.