title: The use of a Bayesian forecasting model in the management of warfarin therapy after total hip arthroplasty.
abstract: This study was performed to compare the computer-based and physician-based management of warfarin therapy after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The computer-assisted and control groups of patients were placed on warfarin postoperatively and followed for a 1-month period. A significant difference (P<.05) was found between the mean number of days needed to reach therapeutic anticoagulation in the control group (4.7+/-3.0 days) and the experimental group (2.8+/-1.4 days) and the proportion of patients in each group who were discharged with a subtherapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) (INR <1.5). The computer-based management of warfarin therapy was more efficient than unaided physician-based management and therefore may lead to improved, cost-effective patient care by reducing length of hospital stay and complications attributable to nontherapeutic anticoagulation in THA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Illinois 60201, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Motykie
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mokhtee
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Zebala
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Caprini
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kudrna
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mungall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin