Comparison of the Safety of Prophylactic Anticoagulants After Intracranial Surgery.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a rare but preventable postoperative complication. Unfractionated heparin (UH) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) are used to prevent VTE, but comparative studies of their safety and efficacy in the neurosurgical context are limited.

Objective: To determine the relative safety and efficacy of UH and LMWH for prophylaxis after cranial surgery.