COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HEPARIN VERSUS WARFARIN FOLLOWING HIP-REPLACEMENT SURGERY

Little information is available on the efficacy of low-molecular-weigh t heparin (enoxaparin) versus warfarin for treatment of deep vein thro mbosis and pulmonary embolism following hip replacement surgery. Still less is known of the comparative cost effectiveness of these two ther apies. A retrospective study was done on 56 patients who underwent ele ctive hip surgery at an urban medical center between 1991 and 1996. Al l patients received enoxaparin or warfarin for purposes of thromboprop hylaxis. An analysis of medication cost, therapy, laboratory monitorin g, and bleeding events of the two antithrombolytic agents was undertak en. Total savings with enoxaparin averaged $1253 per patient, or $137, 886 over the study period. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis or pu lmonary embolism was 0% with enoxaparin and 3% with warfarin. These da ta indicate that enoxaparin is a more cost-effective and efficacious r egimen for thromboprophylaxis following hip replacement surgery than w arfarin.