Thromb Haemost 1984; 51(01): 071-074
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1661023
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

A Double-Blind Trial of Intramuscular Stanozolol in the Prevention of Postoperative Deep Vein Thrombosis Following Elective Abdominal Surgery

S L Blarney
The University Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U. K.
,
B M McArdle
The University Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U. K.
,
P Burns
The University Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U. K.
,
D C Carter
The University Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U. K.
,
G D O Lowe
The University Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U. K.
,
C D Forbes
The University Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, U. K.
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 02 August 1983

Accepted 21 November 1983

Publication Date:
19 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Fibrinolytic shutdown may be important in the development of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We have previously shown that stanozolol 50 mg, given intramuscularly 24 hr before surgery, prevents the decrease in plasminogen activator activity (PA) seen on the first postoperative day in patients at high risk of DVT. To investigate the role of fibrinolytic shutdown in causation of DVT, sixty patients were randomised in a double-blind controlled trial to receive stanozolol or placebo intramuscularly, and DVT was detected by leg scanning and confirmed by venography. Scan positive DVT occurred in IT of 31 placebo patients (35%) and 12 of 29 who received stanozolol (41%). A significant decrease in PA was confirmed in the placebo group, while stanozolol caused a significant increase in PA on the first postoperative day. Patients in either group who did not develop DVT showed minimal changes in PA. We conclude that prevention of fibrinolytic shutdown by this regimen of stanozolol does not prevent postoperative DVT, and that further studies are required to clarify the relationships of postoperative fibrinolysis and DVT.