Apixaban Noninferior to Enoxaparin for Postoperative VTE Prophylaxis

TUESDAY, Sept. 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Apixaban is noninferior to enoxaparin for extended-duration venous thromboembolic event prophylaxis (EP) after abdominopelvic oncologic surgery, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.

Mary E. Westerman, M.D., from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues conducted a single-center prospective quality improvement study measuring patient compliance and safety with EP following abdominopelvic oncologic surgery. Baseline data were collected for six months, followed by a change from enoxaparin to apixaban treatment.

Overall, 161 patients were discharged with enoxaparin during the baseline period and 154 were discharged with apixaban in the intervention period. The researchers found that safety events occurred in 3.1 and 0 percent of those receiving enoxaparin and apixaban, respectively; the absolute risk difference met the prespecified noninferiority threshold. In 33.5 and 14.3 percent of enoxaparin and apixaban patients, respectively, compliance events occurred.

"Apixaban is noninferior to enoxaparin for EP after urologic oncology surgery. Apixaban may have a more favorable safety profile than enoxaparin, although this should be tested in a randomized controlled trial," the authors write. "Based on these results, apixaban is now our departmental standard."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, the manufacturers of apixaban.

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