Study shows GSK’s blood clot drug effective morning after surgery

The drug was also shown to carry a minimal risk of bleeding when administered the morning after surgery. All anti-thrombotics carry some risk for bleeding, and the timing of administration of the first dose following orthopedic surgery has been shown to influence both tolerability and efficacy.

The results of the study are interesting because they suggest that Arixtra is just as effective and well tolerated when administered the day after surgery as it is when administered closer to the end of surgery.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication of total knee or hip replacement surgery. The routine use of preventative medicines, such as Arixtra, is recommended for patients who undergo these types of orthopedic surgery.

“Many factors, such as patient status and a hospital’s routine dosing schedule, can delay the administration of anti-thrombotics,” said lead author Dr Clifford Colwell Jr, with the division of orthopedic surgery at Scripps Clinic, California. “These results showed that administration of Arixtra the morning after surgery was just as effective in decreasing the risk of symptomatic VTE as administered six to 10 hours post-operation the day of surgery.”