Cost-effectiveness of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis with a new mobile device after total hip arthroplasty.

Recent comparison (SAFE study) of a mobile, synchronized compression device and low-molecular-weight heparin for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism showed similar efficacy but significant differences in major bleeding. A model was constructed to evaluate any difference in cost-effectiveness between the 2 therapies incorporating rates and probabilities of major bleeding from the SAFE study with published costs for treating those adverse events. Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of each therapy was performed and applied to hypothetical patient populations representative of annual health system volume. The model showed a cost-effectiveness advantage of the compression device resulting in a savings of more than $3.69 million in a 10 000-patient cohort. The result was primarily driven by a decrease in the amount of major bleeding, which requires significant health care resources to treat.