# To Compare the Effectiveness of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin and Unfractionated Heparin in Reducing Lower Limb Girth in Deep Vein Thrombosis

## TL;DR

This study compares two blood thinners for reducing leg swelling in deep vein thrombosis patients and finds one more effective.

## Contribution

Shows low-molecular-weight heparin significantly reduces leg girth more than unfractionated heparin in DVT treatment.

## Key findings

- LMWH caused highly significant lower limb girth reduction over 10 days.
- UFH showed no significant girth reduction until day 10.
- LMWH outperformed UFH in reducing thrombus thickness.

## Abstract

Introduction: Treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using a once-daily dose of enoxaparin offers greater convenience and the possibility of home-based care for certain patients, as opposed to a continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin (UFH). The study aimed to determine the most cost-effective thromboprophylaxis between low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and UFH for hospitalized patients.

Materials and methods: After obtaining clearance from the institutional ethical committee, the study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, over a period of six months. Informed consent was obtained from all 46 patients included in this study. The participants were divided into two groups: group A received LMWH and group B received UFH.

Results: The mean age in group A was 59.8 + 10.6 years and in group B was 54.9 + 12.3 years. There was no significant difference in the girth of the lower limb between the groups during the follow-up period (p > 0.05). In group A, there was a highly significant reduction in lower limb girth from day one to day five (p < 0.0001), day five to day 10 (p < 0.0001), and day one to day 10 (p < 0.0001). In group B, there was no significant reduction from day one to day five (p = 0.06), but there was a significant reduction from day five to day 10 (p = 0.001) and day one to day 10 (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Treatment with LMWH as an anticoagulant significantly reduced the lower extremity girth and thrombus thickness in cases of DVT when compared to UFH.