Abstract
Of 263 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty, 122 received adjusted low-dose warfarin and 141 received enoxaparin as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. Three patients in the warfarin group and 3 in the enoxaparin group developed ultrasound-detectable DVT ( P > .05). Although the amount of perioperative blood transfused was equivalent in both groups, the overall hemoglobin drop was greater ( P < .005) in the enoxaparin group (2.9 g/dL) as compared with the warfarin group (2.3 g/dL). Five patients (4.6%) in the warfarin group and 16 (11.3%) in the enoxaparin group had bleeding complications ( P < .05). Our data support earlier published reports suggesting that reductions, if any, in the incidence of DVT associated with enoxaparin are offset by a significant increase in bleeding complications as compared with adjusted-dose warfarin. We continue to use adjusted-dose warfarin as primary thromboembolic prophylaxis after total knee arthroplasty.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call