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Thromb Haemost 1990; 64(04): 497-500
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1647346
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

A Comparison of General Anesthesia and Regional Anesthesia as a Risk Factor for Deep Vein Thrombosis Following Hip Surgery: A Critical Review

Martin H Prins
The Department of Medicine, McMaster University, and the Hamilton Civic Hospital Research Center, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
,
Jack Hirsh
The Department of Medicine, McMaster University, and the Hamilton Civic Hospital Research Center, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 20 April 1990

Accepted after revision03 August 1990

Publication Date:
25 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

We evaluated the evidence in support of the suggestion that the risk of deep vein thrombosis after hip surgery is lower with regional than with general anesthesia. A literature search was performed to retrieve all articles which reported on the incidence of postoperative thrombosis in both fractured and elective hip surgery. Articles were included if the method of anesthesia used was reported and if they used mandatory venography. Based upon the quality of study design the level of evidence provided by a study was graded.

In patients who did not receive prophylaxis there were high level studies in elective and fractured hip surgery. All studies showed a statistically significantly lower incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis with regional anesthesia (relative risk reductions of 46-55%). There were no direct comparative studies in patients who received prophylaxis. However, between study comparisons did not show even a trend towards to lower incidence of postoperative thrombosis with regional anesthesia.

 

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