Prevention

High-risk cases

Alternatives include hirudin ^a

Why?

• Hirudin is more effective at preventing venous thromboembolism than heparin in patients undergoing first total hip replacement. ^a

Hirudin is more effective than heparin at preventing venous thromboembolism

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR	NNT (95% CI)
elective total hip replacement a	hirudin	heparin	DVT at 1.5 months	18%	67% (41 to 81)	8 (5 to 16)
			PE at 1.5 months	1.8%	100%	55 (28 to 1900)