TABLE II.
Randomized controlled trials for primary prophylaxis in cancer-related neurosurgery
| Trial | Surgical setting | Patients (n) | Regimen | Duration of treatment | Outcome | Incidences | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | Control | vte | Major bleeding | |||||||||
| Study (%) | Control (%) | p Value | Study (%) | Control (%) | p Value | |||||||
| Nurmohamed et al., 1996 15 | Craniotomy or spinal surgery for tumour or injury | 485 | Nadroparin 7500 IU daily and gcs | Placebo and gcs | 10 Days or until discharge | Venographic dvt at day 10 | 18.7 | 26.3 | 0.047 | 2.50 | 0.80 | 0.87 |
| Agnelli et al., 1998 16 | Elective cranial or spinal surgery for tumours | 307 | Enoxaparin 40 mg daily and gcs | Placebo and gcs | At least 7 days | Venographic dvt at day 8, or pe | 17 | 33 | 0.004 | 3 | 3 | >0.05 |
| Goldhaber et al., 2002 17 | Craniotomy for brain tumour | 150 | Enoxaparin 40 mg daily and gcs and ipc | ufh 5000 IU twice daily and gcs and ipc | Until vte or discharge | Ultrasonographic dvt at discharge | 12 | 6.7 | 0.401 | 2.7 | 1.3 | >0.05 |
| Macdonald et al., 2003 18 | Craniotomy | 100 | Dalteparin 2500 IU daily and ipc | ufh 5000 IU twice daily and ipc | 7 Days, or until ambulating | pe, or ultrasonographic dvt at 1 month | 4 | 0 | >0.05 | 4 | 2 | >0.05 |
vte = venous thromboembolism; gcs = graduated compression stockings; dvt = deep vein thrombosis; pe = pulmonary embolism; ipc = intermittent pneumatic compression; ufh = unfractionated heparin.