A prospective clinically controlled investigation was undertaken to compare the prophylactic effect on thrombosis of graduated compression stockings (TED-stockings, Kendall Co) compared with the effect of low-dose heparin (Heparin Leo 5,000 international units subcutaneously every 12 hours). During a period of one year, a total of 117 patients admitted for elective surgery were distributed at random into the two therapeutic groups. The 99mTc plasmin test was undertaken preoperatively and on the fifth postoperative day in order to establish the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis, if present. A total of 102 patients completed the investigation, 48 of these in the low-dose heparin group and 54 patients in the stocking group. Venous thrombo-embolism was registered in six patients (12.5%) in the heparin group and in three patients (5.6%) in the stocking group (p > 0.05). Eight of these patients had positive plasmin test results and one patient in the heparin group died of pulmonary embolism. It is concluded that compression stockings with graduated pressure of the type investigated here can probably be employed as an alternative form of prophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis in elective general surgery.

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