Abstract

Anticoagulants such as low molecular weight heparins (LMWH; e.g. enoxaparin) and ▼fondaparinux are cost-effective measures for reducing the likelihood of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing surgery.1 ▼Dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa-Boehringer Ingelheim)2 and ▼rivaroxaban (Xarelto – Bayer) are fixed-dose oral anticoagulants licensed in the European Union (EU) for the prevention of VTE in adults who have undergone or are undergoing elective replacement of the hip or knee joints.2^,3 Here, we consider their place for these indications.