DOACs (eg, rivaroxaban, apixaban,and dabigatran) are increasingly considered for use after hip and knee arthroplasties due to their demonstrated efficacy against VTE prophylaxis and an acceptable safety profile.
In a meta-analysis involving 16 trials in over 38,000 patients, when compared to enoxaparin, the risk of symptomatic VTE appeared to be significantly lower with rivaroxaban (relative risk 0.48, 95% C.I. 0.3-0.75), and similar with dabigatran and apixaban (1).
In the same study, compared to enoxaparin, the relative risk of clinically relevant bleeding was significantly higher with rivaroxaban (1.25, 95% C.I. 1.1-1.5), similar with dabigatran , but lower with apixaban (0.82, 95% C.I. 0.7-0.98) (1). The authors concluded that new anticoagulants did not differ significantly for efficacy and safety.
Of course, the decision to use a DOAC vs enoxaparin should be made on an individual basis taking into account a variety of factors, such as patient preferences, cost, comorbidities, patient compliance with medications, etc…
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Reference
1. Gomez-Outes, Suarez-Gea L, Vargas-Castrillon E. Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban versus enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis after total hip or knee replacement: systematic review, meta-analysis, and indirect treatment. BMJ 2012;344:e3675. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22700784/
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