Evaluation of deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis in low-risk patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.
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.
Callaghan
John J
JJ
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Warth
Lucian C
LC
Hoballah
Jamal J
JJ
Liu
Steve S
SS
Wells
Christopher W
CW
D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
D001241:Aspirin