Fondaparinux therapy for 5 to 9 days shows a lower risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), as diagnosed by lower extremity venography, compared to low-molecular-weight heparin (Evidence grade 1). The patient benefit of this is, however, uncertain. Studies of cost effectiveness in short-term treatment are limited to analytical models that build on the premise of an association between DVT (as detected by venography) and serious events.
There is some documentation showing that extended prophylaxis (up to 4 weeks) with fondaparinux - as with low-molecular-weight heparin - reduces the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to no treatment (Evidence grade 2). No studies have been published on the cost effectiveness of long-term prophylaxis with fondaparinux.