Orthopedic surgery puts patients at risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), therefore thromboprophylaxis is recommended for patients. In addition to VTE, other complications can occur after surgery that may be due to the use of medications. Important drugs in the perioperative period include anticoagulants, analgesics and antibiotics. The aim of the retrospective study was to obtain information on the prescription of analgesics and anticoagulants at discharge of patients in the Department of Orthopedics at Murska Sobota General Hospital, to calculate the incidence of complications in the period of 6 months after surgery, and to evaluate the effect of medications on the complication of bleeding. Patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, single intervertebral discectomy or single level decompression of the lumbar portion of the spinal canal between 2017 and 2021 were included. Prescription of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) among patients undergoing total arthroplasty has declined over the years as the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), most commonly rivaroxaban, has increased. In patients undergoing spine surgery, LMWHs are commonly prescribed and DOACs are rarely prescribed, which is consistent with guidelines. Results show that the most common complication after total arthroplasty is hemorrhage: the incidence was 12.2% after total knee arthroplasty and 3.1% after total hip arthroplasty within 6 months of surgery. The incidence of VTE is similar in the two groups of patients after both arthroplasties. We found that complications after knee surgery were more common in men, whereas complications after hip surgery were more common in women. The incidence of VTE within 6 months after spine surgery was 1.1%. In a detailed review of 45 patients with complications, we found that patients received antibiotic prophylaxis as recommended, i.e. 2 g of cefazolin up to 60 minutes before surgery, followed by additional doses. Patients who received LMWH at discharge were more likely to experience postarthroplasty hemorrhage than patients who received DOAC, but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. We found that administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or metamizole at discharge increased the risk of bleeding in patients with total knee arthroplasty, but not in patients with hip arthroplasty. In reviewing clinical pharmacist interventions, we found that of all interventions, pharmacotherapy examinations were the most common.
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