Acetylsalicylic acid in a trial to diminish thromboembolic complications after elective hip surgery.

Fifty-one patients were investigated concerning thromboembolic complications in the operated leg after elective surgery of the hip. Suspicion of clinical deep venous thrombosis (DVT) arose in 11 patients, i.e. 21 per cent. Thirty-five patients were investigated with phlebography. The incidence of DVT among those patients was 15 cases, i.e. 43 per cent. It is concluded that acetylsalicylic acid, a drug which inhibits the platelet release reaction and thereby blocks the platelet aggregation, given orally in a dose of 2 gram per day from the first postoperative day, is not effective in diminishing the incidence of postoperative deep venous thrombosis.