title: Mobile compression devices and aspirin for VTE prophylaxis following simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Recently, Levy et al questioned the effectiveness of mobile compression devices (MCDs) as the sole method of thromboprophylaxis following simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study's purpose was to assess if the addition of aspirin to MCDs improves venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention following simultaneous bilateral TKA. Ninety-six patients (192 TKAs) were retrospectively reviewed: 47 patients received MCDs for 10 days and aspirin for 6 weeks postoperatively based on a risk stratification protocol, while 49 patients received warfarin for 4 weeks postoperatively. One symptomatic VTE was noted in the warfarin cohort, while one patient in the MCD/aspirin cohort and three patients in the warfarin cohort were readmitted within 3 months of surgery. In appropriately selected patients, MCDs with aspirin shows promise in VTE prevention following simultaneous bilateral TKA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic, Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic, Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nunley
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic, Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Staci R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic, Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Keeney
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic, Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barrack
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: aspirin; bilateral total knee arthroplasty; mobile compression devices; thromboprophylaxis; warfarin