The prophylaxis of medical patients for thromboembolism pilot study.

Purpose: We assessed the feasibility of a large randomized trial intended to determine whether low-dose heparin prophylaxis given throughout hospitalization reduces mortality and morbidity in general medical patients.

Subjects And Methods: Hospitalized general medical patients aged more than 60 years at 5 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers were randomized to receive enoxaparin 40 mg or identical placebo, given daily by subcutaneous injection until hospital discharge. Outcomes included total mortality at 90 days (the primary outcome) and 1 year, and occurrence in the VA hospital within 90 days of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and major bleeding.