Gd. Motykie et al., The use of a Bayesian forecasting model in the management of warfarin therapy after total hip arthroplasty, J ARTHROPLA, 14(8), 1999, pp. 988-993
This study was performed to compare the computer-based and physician-based
management of warfarin therapy after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The comp
uter-assisted and control groups of patients were placed on warfarin postop
eratively and followed for a 1-month period. A significant difference (P <.
05) was found between the mean number of days needed to reach therapeutic a
nticoagulation in the control group (4.7 +/- 3.0 days) and the experimental
group (2.8 +/- 1.4 days) and the proportion of patients in each group who
were discharged with a subtherapeutic international normalized ratio (INR)
(INR < 1.5). The computer-based management of warfarin therapy was more eff
icient than unaided physician-based management and therefore may lead to im
proved, cost-effective patient care by reducing length of hospital stay and
complications attributable to nontherapeutic anticoagulation in THA patien
ts.