Prophylactic administrations of aspirin for the prevention of thrombo-embolic complications in postoperative reactive thrombocytosis.

Hyperfunctioning platelets in the thrombocytotic patients after major surgery were satisfactorily controlled by a small dose of aspirin ingestion. Since aspirin is well documented as a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, a small dose of prophylactic administration of aspirin appeared to be a legitimate approach to a possible life-threatening thrombo-embolic complication after surgery, particularly when the platelets are excessively produced and hyperfunctioning.