Surgery of the Colon

Thromboembolism, although still not very common, is increasing alarmingly in spite of everything that has been done to prevent it. Prophylactic measures, such as early ambulation and other attempts to speed up the blood flow in patients who are confined to bed, have failed miserably to decrease the incidence of thromboembolism. Also, it is not possible to detect approximately 40 per cent of the patients with phlebothrombosis—a fatal type of venous thrombosis—before fatal embolism occurs. Some prophylactic measure which can be used routinely in all patients in whom venous thrombosis is likely to occur must be employed.