Prevention of postoperative leg vein thrombosis by electrical muscle stimulation. An evaluation with 125I-labelled fibrinogen

In a prospective trial of preventing deep vein thrombosis electrical stimulation of the calf muscles of one leg was used in 110 patients undergoing major surgery. Deep vein thrombosis was detected by means of the (125)I-fibrinogen uptake test in nine of the stimulated legs and in 23 of the unstimulated legs. It is suggested that this technique, which is both simple and effective, should be used on all patients undergoing major surgery.