Heparin : its use in thrombo-embolic disease

Abstract

The essential factors of risk leading to thrombo-embolic conditions are: age above forty, obesity, cancer, phlebitis and the contraceptive pill. The last ten years have seen an up-surge of interest in the use of heparin to prevent venous-thrombo-embolic disease. Clinical trials have established that low dose heparin provides effective prophylaxis not only against deep vein thrombosis but also against deaths from post-operative pulmonary embolism.