Major operations, hemostatic parameters and venous thrombosis

Of 61 patients who underwent elective surgery, 14 (23%) developed deep leg vein thrombosis as diagnozed by the 125 J-fibrinogen test. None of them showed local symptoms suggesting thrombosis. Comparison between the thrombosis and the no thrombosis group failed to show significant differences between the mean levels of FDP, serum and plasma antithrombin III, plasminogen and hematocrit. The fibrinogen concentration was significantly lower in the thrombosis group preoperatively. At later control examinations the thrombosis group had a significantly lower mean α₂-macroglobulin level, but the fibrinolytic capacity was similar in the two groups.One cancer patient, who showed a very marked decrease in antithrombin III level, died with thrombosis of vena cava.