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William W. Coon, MD; John Penner, MD; G. Patrick Clagett, MD; Nancy Eos

Arch Surg. 1978;113(4):429-431.

Abstract
• Eighty-six patients undergoing elective splenectomy have been investigated preoperatively and postoperatively by serial platelet counts and leg scanning using iodine 125-labeled fibrinogen. The presence of deep leg vein thromboses detected by labeled fibrinogen was confirmed by dye phlebography. In only five patients (6%) did deep venous thrombosis develop. In none of these five patients did an elevation in platelet count to 600,000/cu mm develop before or at the time of development of the thrombosis. None of 21 other patients who did have a rise in platelet count greater than 1,000,000/cu mm had evidence of venous thrombosis. These data do not substantiate the need for routine prophylactic antithrombotic therapy in patients in whom postsplenectomy thrombocytosis develops.

(Arch Surg 113:429-431, 1978)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Surgery (Drs Coon and Clagett and Ms Eos) and Medicine (Dr Penner), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 12, 1977.

Read before the 85th annual meeting of Western Surgical Association, Las Vegas, Nov 15, 1977.

Reprint requests to 1405 E Ann St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (Dr Coon).

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