OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of hemocoagulase on coagulatory function and deep venous thrombosis after abdominal surgery.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to January 2009, 60 cases (gastric cancer 20 cases, colonic cancer 40 cases) undergoing gastrointestinal surgery at the Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University were randomized to the hemocoagulase group and the control group(n=30 in each group). Intravenous hemocoagulase at a daily dose of 2U was used on the same day and the next day postoperatively in the hemocoagulase group. D-dimer(D-D), tissue plasminogen activator(t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1), PT, APTT, TT, platelet count were measured before and after operation. Doppler ultrasound examination was carried out to exclude deep venous thrombosis on the 5th to 7th days after operation.

RESULTSSignificant increased D-D, t-PA, PAI-1, prolonged PT, APTT, shortened TT and lower platelet count after surgery were noticed as compared to the baseline in both groups(P<0.05, P<0.01). PT, APTT, D-D, t-PA, and PAI-1 significantly increased, and TT significantly shortened in the hemocoagulase group as compared to the control group after surgery(P<0.05, P<0.01). Deep venous thrombosis in the left lower limbs was noticed in 7 patients(23.3%) in the hemocoagulase group and 3 cases(10.0%) in the control group, however the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHypercoagulable state usually appears after abdominal surgery and use of hemocoagulase may aggravate hypercoagulability and increase the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in lower limbs after abdominal surgery. Preventative use of hemocoagulase must be administered with caution.