Evaluation of preoperative blood tests for predicting deep vein thrombosis after total hip replacement

Determinations of the total calcium content and aggregability of the platelets as well as tests of coagulation and fibrinolysis were carried out on 93 patients before undergoing total hip replacement. All patients received low dose heparin, solely or combined with dihydroergotamine. Twenty-six patients developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) detected by the labelled fibrinogen uptake test and confirmed by ascending phlebography. Only a few tests, among them the total calcium content of platelets, showed a statistical difference between the patients who subsequently developed DVT and those who did not. Combination of several tests by a multivariate statistical analysis programme proved to have more predictive value than the analysis of single tests.