In some cases we observed after-bleeding subsequent to the postoperative prescription of alpha-chymotrypsin. In contrast to this, several authors have pointed out that haemostasis is not affected by therapeutical doses. In vitro studies on 10 individuals (test methods: hirudin tolerance test and euglobulin lysis estimation) showed increased fibrinolytic activity. It is, therefore, dissuaded from administering alpha-chymotrypsin to outpatients for the prevention of postoperative oedema and haematoma formation.