Biomaterial Database

Comparison of low molecular weight heparin (Fragmin) with sodium heparin for prophylaxis against postoperative thrombosis in women undergoing major gynaecological surgery. 1998

B Ward, and S Pradhan

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Queensland, Royal Women's Hospital, Brisbane.

A randomized controlled trial was undertaken comparing the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight (LMW) heparin (Fragmin) with sodium heparin for prophylaxis against postoperative thromboembolic disease after major gynaecological surgery. Women were randomized to receive subcutaneous injections of 5,000 U of either once daily LMW heparin or twice daily sodium heparin. A total of 566 women were recruited, of whom 552 completed the study. Most women (461) had malignant disease and 430 of these underwent radical surgery. The remainder underwent major, but not radical surgery. There were 5 thromboembolic events in the LMW heparin group and 2 in the sodium heparin group, with no significant difference between these groups. No significant difference was found in the incidence of intraoperative or postoperative transfusion in the 2 groups. The decision of which heparin to use in routine practice cannot be made on clinical grounds.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007279	Injections, Subcutaneous	Forceful administration under the skin of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the skin.	Subcutaneous Injections,Injection, Subcutaneous,Subcutaneous Injection
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D005260	Female		Females
D005831	Genital Diseases, Female	Pathological processes involving the female reproductive tract (GENITALIA, FEMALE).	Gynecologic Diseases,Female Genital Diseases,Diseases, Female Genital,Diseases, Gynecologic,Female Genital Disease,Genital Disease, Female,Gynecologic Disease
D006493	Heparin	A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.	Heparinic Acid,alpha-Heparin,Heparin Sodium,Liquaemin,Sodium Heparin,Unfractionated Heparin,Heparin, Sodium,Heparin, Unfractionated,alpha Heparin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000925	Anticoagulants	Agents that prevent BLOOD CLOTTING.	Anticoagulant Agent,Anticoagulant Drug,Anticoagulant,Anticoagulant Agents,Anticoagulant Drugs,Anticoagulation Agents,Indirect Thrombin Inhibitors,Agent, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulant,Agents, Anticoagulation,Drug, Anticoagulant,Drugs, Anticoagulant,Inhibitors, Indirect Thrombin,Thrombin Inhibitors, Indirect
D013923	Thromboembolism	Obstruction of a blood vessel (embolism) by a blood clot (THROMBUS) in the blood stream.	Thromboembolisms
D017985	Dalteparin	A low-molecular-weight fragment of heparin, prepared by nitrous acid depolymerization of porcine mucosal heparin. The mean molecular weight is 4000-6000 daltons. It is used therapeutically as an antithrombotic agent. (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	Tedelparin,Dalteparin Sodium,FR-860,Fragmin,Fragmine,Kabi-2165,FR 860,FR860,Kabi 2165,Kabi2165,Sodium, Dalteparin