The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Oral apixaban for the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism. N Engl J Med 2013; 369: 799-808.

Published: 14th April 2014

Authors: Agnelli G, Buller HR, Cohen A, Curto M, Gallus AS, Johnson M et al. et al.

Conclusion

Just over 5000 patients with acute venous thromboembolism were included. The rate of recurrent symptomatic venous thromboembolism was similar for apixaban (2.3 per cent) and warfarin (2.7 per cent) treated patients. Both major bleeding (0.6 versus 1.8 per cent, P<0.001), and all clinically relevant bleeding rates (4.3 versus 9.7 per cent, P<0.001) favoured apixaban.

Pubmed Link