Dalteparin for deep venous thrombosis: A hospital-in-the-home program

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy, safety and cost savings of home treatment of lower-limb deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Setting: A hospital-in-the-home treatment program. Patients: One hundred patients with acute lower limb DVT (53 proximal, 47 distal), and no contraindication to home treatment, were entered into the program from March 1995 to February 1997. Intervention: All patients received dalteparin, 200 units/kg subcutaneously, once daily for a minimum of five days, with commencement of oral anticoagulation (warfarin) on Day 2. Patients with proximal DVT had lung ventilation-perfusion scans performed and were admitted to hospital for at least 24 hours. Patients with distal DVT were di..