title: [Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in orthopedic surgery. Role of the new anticoagulants].
abstract: Patients undergoing a total hip or total knee arthroplasty are at high risk of thromboembolism in the postoperative period and after hospital discharge; consequently, clinical guidelines recommended thromboprophylaxis for 10-35 days. Although improved surgical techniques and widespread use of anticoagulants have substantially reduced the incidence of thromboembolic events, venous thromboembolic disease is still a dangerous complication and, in these patients, pulmonary embolism remains the main cause of death. Low molecular weight heparins have long been the mainstay of prevention. However, parenteral administration is inconvenient for many patients, which can sometimes cause poor treatment adherence. In recent years, a new class of oral, fixed-dose anticoagulants, with different mechanisms of action, few interactions and a predictable effect, has been developed. At present, a thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) and two FXa inhibitors (rivaroxaban and apixaban) are available for prophylaxis in patients after total knee or total hip arthroplasty. In several phase III clinical trials, these drugs have been shown to have equal or superior efficacy and a similar degree of safety to conventional therapy with enoxaparin. These new drugs can significantly improve long-term prevention, particularly in the community setting.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, España. rguijarrom@telefonica.net
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guijarro Merino
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villalobos Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069604:Dabigatran; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D009025:Morpholines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011728:Pyridones; D013876:Thiophenes; D015091:beta-Alanine; C522181:apixaban; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran