Evaluation of deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis in low-risk patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

J Arthroplasty. 2008 Sep;23(6 Suppl 1):20-4. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2008.05.018.

Abstract

Our objective of the study was to address the question: "What is the efficacy of a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolus prophylaxis protocol after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in which low-risk patients had only aspirin and mechanical devices for prophylaxis?" A multimodal approach to DVT prophylaxis using aspirin as the primary mode of chemoprophylaxis was successful in preventing DVT-related morbidity and mortality in 312 consecutive TKAs performed in low-risk patients. There were no DVT-related deaths and no deaths in general at 90 days of follow-up coupled with a low rate of readmission for thromboembolic events and no readmissions or reoperations from bleeding in this group. This low-morbidity, low-cost prophylaxis should be considered an appropriate protocol for low-risk patients undergoing TKA. Of all TKAs performed during the time period of the study, 73% qualified for the low-risk group.

MeSH terms

  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee*
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Pulmonary Embolism / prevention & control
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Venous Thrombosis / mortality
  • Venous Thrombosis / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Aspirin