Efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in prevention of deep vein thrombosis after total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods From January 2011 to June 2011,124 patients with total knee arthroplasty were randomized into two groups:rivaroxaban group with 70 cases and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) group with 54 cases.The incidence rate of DVT,perioperative plasma D-dimeir levels,bleeding risk related events (intraoperative bleeding,postoperative drainage and incidence rate of ecchymosis) were observed.Results There was no DVT occured in rivaroxaban group,the incidence rate of DVT was 0; And there were 4 patients with DVT in LMWH group,the incidence rate of DVT was 7.4％.The incidence rate of DVT,perioperative plasma D-dimer levels,incidence rate of ecchymosis in rivaroxaban group were lower than those in LMWH group,the differences were significant ( P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in prevention of DVT after TKA are better than those of LMWH.Rivaroxaban can be orally taken,has good anticoagulation effect without increasing the bleeding rate.It does not require laboratory monitoring and has no food interactions. Key words: Rivaroxaban ; Low molecular weight heparin ; Knee arthroplasty ; Deep vein thrombosis