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Chirurgia Del Piede 2009 April;33(1):11-6

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Fondaparinux role in the prevention of venous thromboembolism following foot surgery

Napoli V., Napoli E.

Centro di Chirurgia del Piede Clinica “Fornaca di Sessant”- Torino, Italia

Surgical patients, especially those undergoing orthopaedic surgery, are at potential risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism. Though higher in major orthopaedic surgery than in foot surgery, the risk is present nonetheless. Prophylaxis against thromboembolism is done with the use of mechanical devices or pharmacologic therapy or both depending on the degree of risk. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is the currently preferred choice of pharmacologic prophylaxis, despite a certain percent of non responders being reported among foot surgery patients. An alternative drug for reducing the incidence of thromboembolism is the pentasaccharide fondaparinux, an anticoagulant that according to recent studies in major orthopaedic surgery reduced by over 50% the global risk of thromboembolism as compared with LMWH.