Table 1

 Characteristics of included randomised controlled trials and study treatments

Drug, trialNo in sampleType of surgeryTrial phaseDose, treatment duration (timing of first dose in relation to surgery)Design of randomised controlled trial; adjudicating committeeJadad scoreDay of venographyFollow-up (days)
Experimental drugControl drug
Dabigatran:
 RE-MODEL192101Total knee replacementIIIDabigatran 220 mg or 150 mg once daily, 6-10 days (1-4 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 6-10 days (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Gothenburg56-1090
 RE-NOVATE203493Total hip replacementIIIDabigatran 220 mg or 150 mg once daily, 28-35 days (1-4 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 28-35 days (aboout 12 hours*)Multicentre, double blind; Holland53394
 RE-MOBILIZE212615Total knee replacementIIIDabigatran 220 mg or 150 mg once daily, 12-15 days (8-12 hours)Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily, 12-15 days (12-24 hours)Double blind; Gothenburg51490
 RE-NOVATE II222055Total hip replacementIIIDabigatran 220 mg once daily, 28-35 days (1-4 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 28-35 days (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Holland53290
Rivaroxaban:
 RECORD1234541Total hip replacementIIIRivaroxaban 10 mg once daily, 35d (6 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 35 days (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Gothenburg53666-71
 RECORD2242509Total hip replacementIIIRivaroxaban 10 mg once daily, 31-39 days (6 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 14 days (about 12 hours*)+placebo 30 daysDouble blind; Gothenburg532-4062-75
 RECORD3252531Total knee replacementIIIRivaroxaban 10 mg once daily, 10-14 days (6 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 10-14 days (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Gothenburg511-1541-50
 RECORD4263148Total knee replacementIIIRivaroxaban 10 mg once daily, 10-14 days (6 hours)Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily, 10-14 days (12-24 hours)Double blind; Gothenburg511-1540-49
 PROOF OF CONCEPT27641Total hip replacementIIaRivaroxaban 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 30 mg twice daily, rivaroxaban 30 mg once daily, 5-9 days (6-8 hours)†Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 5-9 days (about 12 hours*)Open label; Gothenburg35-938-68
 ODIXA KNEE28621Total knee replacementIIbRivaroxaban 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 30 mg twice daily, 5-9 days (6-8 hours)†Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily, 5-9days (12-24 hours)Double blind; Gothemburg55-937-67
 ODIXA HIP (twice daily)29722Total hip replacementIIbRivaroxaban 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 30 mg twice daily, 5-9 days (6-8 hours)†Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 5-9 days (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Gothenburg55-938-68
 ODIXA HIP (once daily)30873Total hip replacementIIbRivaroxaban 10, 20, or 30 mg once daily, 5-9 days (6-8 hours)†Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 5-9 days (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Gothenburg56-1035-69
Apixaban:
 ADVANCE-1313195Total knee replacementIIIApixaban 2.5 mg twice daily, 10-14 days (12-24 hours)Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily, 12 days (12-24 hours)Double blind; Hamilton510-1470-84
 ADVANCE-2323057Total knee replacementIIIApixaban 2.5 mg twice daily, 10-14 days (12-24 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 10-14 day (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Hamilton510-1470-84
 ADVANCE-3335407Total hip replacementIIIApixaban 2.5 mg twice daily, 35 days (12-24 hours)Enoxaparin 40 mg once daily, 35 days (about 12 hours*)Double blind; Hamilton532-3890-100
 APROPOS341238Total knee replacement2bApixaban 5, 10, or 20 mg once daily, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg twice daily, 10-14 days (12-24 hours)‡Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily, 10-14 days (about 12 hours*) or warfarin (international normalised ratio 1.8-3.0§)Double blind; Hamilton510-1442

*Administered preoperatively; other first doses were administered postoperatively.

†Only data pertaining to 10 mg total daily dose (5 mg twice daily or 10 mg once daily) were included in the meta-analysis.

‡Only data pertaining to 5 mg total daily dose (2.5 mg twice daily or 5 mg once daily) were included in the meta-analysis.

§Only data pertaining to 40 mg once daily dose control group were included in the meta-analysis.