Low-dose heparin thromboembolism prophylaxis
J. T. Owings and F. W. Blaisdell
Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Medical Center, Sacramento, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine a rational approach to heparin dosing for
thromboembolism prophylaxis. DESIGN: Literature review. RESULTS: Three
commonly used heparin dosing regimens were identified: (1) standard
low-dose heparin (5000 U administered subcutaneously 2-3 times per day);
(2) adjusted-dose heparin (adequate to elevate the activated partial
thromboplastin time to 5 seconds above the upper limit of normal); and (3)
low-molecular-weight heparin (30 mg subcutaneously twice daily without
monitoring). CONCLUSIONS: Adjusted-dose heparin thromboembolism prophylaxis
is both the safest and most reliable method currently available.
