The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Venous thromboembolism incidence and prophylaxis use after gastrectomy among Korean patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. The PROTECTOR randomized clinical trial. JAMA Surg 2018; 153: 939-946.

Published: 27th February 2019

Authors: Jung YJ, Seo HS, Park CY, Jeon HM, Kim J-I, Yim HW et al.

Conclusion

This trial that included 682 patients randomized to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in addition to intermittent pneumatic compression postoperatively. The addition of LMWH reduced the rate of venous thromboembolism from 3.6 to 0.6 per cent, P=0.008, but increased the risk of bleeding (9.1 versus 1.2 per cent, P<0.001).

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