Administering Aspirin And Rivaroxaban To Prevent Deep Venous Thrombosis After Total Knee Arthroplasty

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of aspirin and rivaroxaban for post total knee arthroplasty (TKA) deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis.MethodsFrom July2011to July2013,324patients with osteoarthritis who underwent primary unilateral TKA in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Articular Surgery were randomly divided into three groups. Twelve hours after the surgery, Rivaroxaban Group was given oral Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) at the dose of10mg/d, Low-molecular-weight Heparin (LMWH) Group was given subcutaneous LMWH sodium (Clexane) at the dose of4,000AxalU (0.4ml)/d and the Aspirin Group was given oral aspirin (Bayaspirin) at the dose of100mg/d. All the three groups were given for14days. Comparisons of incidence of DVT, dominant/hidden blood loss, wound complication rate and the incidences of lower limb subcutaneous ecchymosis and swelling were made in the three groups.ResultsCompared with LMWH Group,the incidence of DVT was lower (P<0.05) but hidden blood loss and wound complications were more common (P<0.05) in Rivaroxaban Group. There were no significant differences between LMWH Group and Aspirin Group in the incidence of DVT, hidden blood loss, wound complications or incidences of lower limb swelling and subcutaneous ecchymosis (P>0.05).ConclusionRivaroxaban has a positive anticoagulation effect but leads to increases in both hidden blood loss and wound complications in patients; there are no differences in efficacy and safety between aspirin and LWMH, so aspirin as part of a multimodal anticoagulation therapy after TKA has good clinical safety and efficacy.