Alteration in Fibrinolysis Associated With Surgery and Venous Thrombosis

Summary A marked increase in fibrinolytic activity occurs during surgical operations, especially major surgery. This increase sometimes begins prior to the induction of anaesthesia. There is reduced fibrinolytic activity during the postoperative period and this occurs earlier and to a greater degree in those patients who develop a venous thrombosis as shown by the 125I-fibrinogen test.