USE OF HEPARIN AND DICUMAROL IN THE ACTIVE TREATMENT OF THROMBOEMBOLISM

Abstract

ADVANCE in recent years in the knowledge of the blood coagulation mechanism and methods for its control has been a major stimulus to investigators in the field of thromboembolism. Reports of the reduction of its incidence postoperatively with the prophylactic use of anticoagulants¹ and the lowering of the mortality rates and complications in coronary thrombosis² have been encouraging. Once a thrombosis develops, the favorable effect of anticoagulants would appear to be a prevention of the spread of the lesion and of the formation of loose clots easily dislodged from the parent thrombus. In addition, recent work³ suggests an increase in the arterial blood flow from administration of dicumarol® and, to a less extent, heparin. There is evidence at present to indicate that the newly discovered prothrombin accelerator factor⁴ is increased early in the thrombotic process,⁵ and two groups of workers have found it to be