ABSTRACT
DVT prevention in women undergoing surgery for gynecological malignancy was explored in a number of trials by Clarke-Pearson et al.45-47 While low-dose UFH twice daily was ineffective in reducing the risk of venous thrombosis, 8-hourly low-dose UFH reduced the DVT rate, and more so if the patients received 2-9 doses of low-dose UFH before surgery.46 Von Tempelhoff et al48 studied 60 patients with ovarian cancer, of whom 17 had thromboses. Four of 28 patients on LMWH (certoparin) developed new thrombosis, compared with none of 30 patients receiving UFH during the 9-day postoperative period. Cancer mortality was 21.4% in the LMWH group and 37.5% in patients who had received UFH (Table 15.3).
