Racial incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in South Africa

Postoperatiue deep vein thrombosis is considered to be rare in non-Europeans (Burkitt, 1972). The 125I fibrinogen test, Doppler ultrasound and venography were used to determine the true incidence of postoperative deep vein thrombosis in a South African population. The results show that the European, Coloured, African and Indian patients were all at a similar high risk.