A Comparison of Certoparin and Unfractionated Heparin in the Prevention of Thromboembolic Events in Acutely Ill Medical Patients

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Hospitalized medical patients 70 years of age or older 2. Acute medical illness with significant decrease in mobility expected for at least 4 days (patient bedridden or only able to walk short distances) 3. written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. immobilization longer than 3 days prior to randomization 2. prior major surgery, trauma or invasive procedure within the last 4 weeks including any injuries or operation of central nervous system 3. expected major surgical or invasive procedure within the next 3 weeks after randomization 4. LMWH/heparin administration longer than 48 hours in the 5 days prior to randomization 5. immobilization due to cast or fracture 6. indication for anticoagulatory or thrombolytic therapy 7. acute symptomatic DVT / PE 8. known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or drugs with similar chemical structures 9. Acute or history of heparin induced thrombocytopenia type II (HIT II) Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply