Aspirin: Are Patients Actually Taking It?-A Quality Assessment Study

Overview

Journal Arthroplast Today

Publisher Elsevier

Date 2018 Dec 19

PMID 30560179

Authors

Steven Lewis

Shaun Kink

Michael Rahl

Ashley Nord

Jason Meldau

Karl Roberts

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess patient adherence to an aspirin-based prophylactic deep venous thromboembolism (DVT) care management plan after total lower extremity arthroplasty.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, patients who underwent total hip or knee replacement surgery by a single senior surgeon were surveyed at their routine 6-week follow-up appointment regarding adherence to aspirin DVT prophylaxis. Postoperatively, patients were advised to take 325 mg of aspirin twice daily for 6 weeks to prevent DVT.

Results: Of the 101 patients surveyed, 45 underwent total hip arthroplasty while 56 underwent total knee arthroplasty. There were 48 (48%) patients who were still taking aspirin at their routine 6-week postoperative follow-up appointment and 53 (52%) patients who were not taking aspirin (nonadherent group). Of the latter, 3 (6%) never took aspirin postoperatively, 14 (26%) discontinued within 2 weeks postoperatively, and 23 (43%) did not take it any longer for half the time prescribed. In the nonadherent group, 8 patients reported that they felt they did not need the aspirin prophylaxis, 5 experienced side effects, and 10 were unsure of how long they needed to take it. There was 1 patient with a calf DVT and no episodes of pulmonary embolism.

Conclusions: Over half of our study, patients did not finish their aspirin regimen. We suggest a consistent outline of medication duration throughout the pre/postop course and communication regarding aspirin cessation.

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