Background: Recent guidelines include aspirin as an option to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in selected patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery. However, the efficacy of aspirin after arthroplasty has not been well-defined, particularly in more contemporary patient populations. Objective: To compare rates of post-operative VTE between patients who received aspirin-only versus anticoagulants after hip [...]

Background: Over 6 million people in the US have a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Given the increased risk for stroke and systemic embolism, many patients are treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to reduce their risk. In the major trials comparing to DOACs to warfarin for stroke and systemic embolism prevention in atrial fibrillation, DOACs [...]

Background: The role of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events remains controversial, Especially in diabetic patients. We have conducted a meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aspirin for primary prevention in diabetic patients. Methods: Literature search of Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Clinicaltrials.gov for related RCTs [...]

Background: Worldwide, 200 million adults undergo non-cardiac surgery annually, and completing pre-operative assessments is a major role of today’s hospitalists. In previous years, decisions regarding anti-platelet agents were less evidence-based and often fell to provider preference. With the release of POISE-2 in 2014, there is now stronger evidence to support holding aspirin before elective surgery [...]

Background: Current guidelines recommend continuing aspirin during elective non-cardiac surgery in 1) patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) if the bleeding risk allows and 2) patients without prior PCI if thrombotic risk outweighs bleeding risk. Comparing the risk of thrombosis and bleeding is frequently inexplicit, particularly in low and intermediate bleeding risk surgery. The [...]