Alternate Methods of Heparin Administration
Authors: MARK I. TARAGIN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1988)

Letters and Corrections1 February 1988Alternate Methods of Heparin AdministrationMARK I. TARAGIN, M.D.MARK I. TARAGIN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-108-2-306 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: Doyle and coworkers (1) discuss adjusted subcutaneous heparin compared with continuous intravenous heparin in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis. There are many interesting observations, especially about the subject of silent pulmonary embolism, but I have grave reservations about their conclusions.In a study that attempts to show no difference between two alternatives, a power analysis, to show the ability of the study to detect a difference if it exists, is crucial. Indeed, Freiman and associates (2) showed this deficiency in the literature. If one calculates an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval, one finds that...References1. DOYLETURPIEHIRSH DAJ. Adjusted subcutaneous heparin or continuous intravenous heparin in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis. Ann Intern Med. 1987;107:441-5. LinkGoogle Scholar2. FREIMANCHALMERSSMITHKUEBLER JTHR. The importance of beta type II error and sample size in the design and interpretation of the randomized control trial. N Engl J Med. 1978;299:690-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. BENTLEYKAKKARSCULLY PVM. An objective study of alternative methods of heparin administration. Thromb Res. 1980;18:177-87. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. ANDERSSONFAGRELLHOLMGREN GBK. Subcutaneous administration of heparin: a randomised comparison with intravenous administration of heparin to patients with deep-vein thrombosis. Thromb Res. 1982;27:631-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. WALKERSHAWTHOMSONCUMMINGTHOMAS MJGJM. Subcutaneous calcium heparin versus intravenous sodium heparin in treatment of established acute deep vein thrombosis of the legs: a multicentre prospective randomised trial. Br Med J. 1987;294:1189-92. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. DOYLETURPIEHIRSH DAJ. Adjusted subcutaneous heparin or continuous intravenous heparin in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis. Ann Intern Med. 1987;107:441-5. LinkGoogle Scholar2. YOUNGBRESNITZSTROM MEB. Sample size nomograms for interpreting negative clinical studies. Ann Intern Med. 1983;99:248-51. LinkGoogle Scholar3. FREIMANCHALMERSSMITHKUEBLER JTHR. The importance of beta, the type II error and sample size in the design and interpretation of the randomized control trial. N Engl J Med. 1978;299:690-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. BIELLO D. Radiological (scintigraphic) evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism. JAMA. 1987;257:3257-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. ALDERSONMARTIN PE. Pulmonary embolism: diagnosis with multiple imaging modalities. Radiology. 1987;164:297-312. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School New Brunswick, NJ 08903 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 February 1988Volume 108, Issue 2Page: 306-307KeywordsConfidence intervalsDeep vein thrombosisHeparinOdds ratioPulmonary embolism Issue Published: 1 February 1988 PDF DownloadLoading ...