Venous Thromboembolism

- Male patients aged 18 years or above and postmenopausal female patients
- Patients scheduled for elective primary total hip replacement (cemented or non-cemented prosthesis)
- Patients written informed consent for participation after receiving detailed written and oral previous information to any study specific procedures

- Related to medical history:
 -- Any VTE prior to randomization
 -- Myocardial infarction (MI) or TIA or ischaemic stroke within the last 6 months prior to randomisation
 -- History of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, allergy to heparins- Intracerebral or intraocular bleeding within the last 6 months prior to randomisation
- History of gastrointestinal disease with gastrointestinal bleeding within the last 6 months prior to the study
- History or presence of gastrointestinal disease which could result in an impaired absorption of the study drug (e.g. severe active inflammatory bowel disease, short gut syndrome)
- Amputation of one legRelated to current symptoms or findings:
 -- Heart insufficiency NYHA class III-IV- Congenital or acquired haemorrhagic diathesis (PT INR/aPTT not within normal limits) including patients with acquired or congenital thrombopathy
 -- Thrombocytopenia (platelets < 100.000/µl)- Macroscopic haematuria- Allergy to contrast media- Severe hypertension (SBP > 200 mmHg, DBP > 100 mmHg)- Impaired liver function (transaminases > 2 x ULN)
 -- Impaired renal function (serum creatinine > 1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min)
 -- Active malignant disease - Presence of active peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal disease with increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding- Body weight < 45 kg
 -- Drug- or alcohol abuse- Related to current treatment- Patients who cannot stop therapy (in the opinion of the investigator/physician) with anticoagulants (e.g. phenprocoumon, warfarin-sodium, heparins and factor Xa inhibitors other than study medication) should be excluded from the study
 -- Fibrinolytic therapy- Therapy with acetylic salicylic acid or other platelet aggregation inhibitors (e.g. clopidogrel, dipyridamole and ticlopidine) should be stopped one week before enrolment. Patients not able to stop ASA therapy will be excluded
 -- All other drugs influencing coagulation, (exception: NSAIDs with half life < 17 hrs) will be not allowed during the study treatment period- Systemic and topical treatment with azole compounds (e.g. ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole) and other strong CYP3A4-inhibitors eg HIV-protease inhibitors. Azole compounds and other strong CYP3A4-inhibitors eg HIV-protease should be stopped at least four days before enrolment
- Therapy with another investigational product within 30 days prior start of study
- Miscellaneous
- Planned intermittent pneumatic compression during active treatment period
- Planned epidural anaesthesia with indwelling epidural catheter (spinal or epidural anaesthesia without indwelling catheter are allowed)
- If traumatic or repeated epidural and spinal puncture occur the patient should be excluded from study
- Concomitant participation in another trial or study