A combination of heparin and an intermittent pneumatic compression device may be more effective to prevent deep-vein thrombosis in the lower extremities after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of a combination of heparin and an intermittent pneumatic compression device on thrombogenesis and platelet activation in the upper and lower extremities after laparoscopy. Methods: A blinded study was performed on 30 patients. Patients were randomly injected with either heparin or physiological saline solution (PSS) subcutaneously. The intermittent compression boot was used during surgery. Plasma D-dirner (D-D), a marker of thrombogenesis, and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), a marker of platelet activation, were measured in the upper and lower extremities. Results: In the heparin group, D-Ds in the upper and lower extremities increased significantly 24 h after surgery, but they were significantly lower than those of the PSS group. beta-TG in the lower extremities of patients in the PSS group increased significantly 24 h after surgery. Conclusion: A combination of low-molecular-weight heparin and intermittent pneumatic compression may be more effective to prevent deep-vein thrombosis in the legs.