Prevention of venous thrombosis by dipyridamole-naproxen and low-dose heparin in patients undergoing hysterectomy.

Orally administered dipyridamole in combination with naproxen was compared with subcutaneously administered low-dose heparin in prevention of deep venous thrombosis after abdominal hysterectomy. The radioactive fibrinogen test was used to diagnose thrombosis. Only one patient in the total series of 65 developed thrombosis. She belonged to the dipyridamole-naproxen group; the oral intake of the agents was disturbed by postoperative gastrointestinal side-effects. Vomiting and headache were more common in the dipyridamole-naproxen group, but wound complications (haematomas, ruptures and infections) were more common in the low-dose heparin group.