Abstract
Objectives. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of fondaparinux and enoxaparin combined with mechanical prophylaxis (MP) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We also investigated the occurrence of pulmonary embolism (PE) and its associated risk factors.
Methods. Data were retrospectively collected on patients who underwent THA or TKA between 2008 and 2010 from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database (n = 49,678). We extracted information on sex, age, main diagnosis, types of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, comorbidities, hospital volume, the use of MP, and the use of anticoagulant drugs.
Results. The overall occurrence of PE was 0.41%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of PE was significantly higher in females (odds ratio, 2.17; p < 0.001, compared with males), TKA (1.47; p = 0.039, compared with THA), and longer-duration anesthesia (2.63; p = 0.008 in the ≥ 240-min. group compared with the ≤ 119-min. group). Compared with the MP-alone group, the occurrence of PE was significantly reduced in the fondaparinux group (0.58; p = 0.025) and the enoxaparin group (0.59; p = 0.046).
Conclusions. Fondaparinux or enoxaparin combined with MP decreased the occurrence of PE. The risk factors for PE were female patients, TKA, and longer-duration anesthesia (≥ 240 min.).
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Research on Policy Planning and Evaluation from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (grant number: H22-Policy-031) and by the Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (FIRST program) from the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Japan (grant number: 0301002001001).
Conflict of interests
None.