The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of aspirin versus low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and/or total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Systematic review and meta-analysis. Sixteen studies were selected. The risk of VTE, DVT and PE were analyzed. Mortality, risk of bleeding and surgical wound complications was also analyzed.
248,461 patients were included. 176,406 patients with thromboprophylaxis with LMWH and 72,055 patients with aspirin thromboprophylaxis. There were no significant differences in the risk of VTE (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.69-1.26; p = 0.64), DVT (OR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.43 -1.20; p = 0.21) or PE (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 0.86-1.49; p = 0.38) between both groups. No significant differences were found in mortality (p = 0.30), bleeding (p = 0.22), or complications in the surgical wound (p = 0.85) between both groups. These same findings were found in the sub-analysis of only randomized clinical trials (p > 0.05).
No increased risk of PE, DVT, or VTE was found among patients with aspirin thromboprophylaxis versus patients with LMWH thromboprophylaxis. There was also no greater mortality, greater bleeding, or greater complications in the surgical wound found among patients with aspirin thromboprophylaxis versus patients with LMWH thromboprophylaxis.
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