Prophylaxis of Thromboembolism

To the Editor: The well conducted trial of Gallus et al.1 demonstrating that small doses of heparin prevent deep vein thrombosis in several types of patient is wholly encouraging. This study confirms the work of others who have used a “perioperative” heparin regimen in elective general surgical patients and greatly extends present knowledge of this treatment in patients with hip fractures subjected to emergency surgery and in patients with heart disease. There are some errors in the discussion of other investigators' trials: At no time has Sharnoff depended on the clinical diagnosis of venous thrombosis: his criterion has always.