Safety of dental extractions during uninterrupted single or dual antiplatelet treatment

Analysis of post-extraction bleeding in patients taking antithrombotic therapy using data from the longevity improvement and fair evidence study

BACKGROUND

Several studies have investigated post-extraction bleeding in patients on antithrombotic therapy, but most included a small sample size.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyse post-extraction bleeding in patients on antithrombotic therapy using data from a large database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Claims data of National Health Insurance and Late-Stage Elderly Healthcare System enrollees who underwent tooth extraction between October 2014 and March 2019 (n = 107 767) in a large multiregional cohort study (Longevity Improvement and Fair Evidence study) were included. Antithrombotic therapy was determined based on the drug codes used at the time of tooth extraction (classified into six groups: no antithrombotic, single antiplatelet, dual antiplatelet, Direct Oral Anticoagulant, warfarin and combined antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies). The outcome was defined as the presence of "post-extraction bleeding" as a receipt disease name in the same month as tooth extraction. To examine the association between antithrombotic therapy and post-extraction bleeding in detail, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with post-extraction bleeding as the objective variable; each antithrombotic therapy as the explanatory variable; and age, sex and comorbidities as adjustment variables.

RESULTS

Antithrombotic therapy was administered in 14 343 patients (13.3%), and post-extraction bleeding was observed in 419 patients (0.4%). The rate of post-extraction bleeding was significantly lower in the no antithrombotic therapy and single antiplatelet groups than that in the other groups (odds ratio: 2.00-9.02).

CONCLUSION

The frequency of post-extraction bleeding is high in patients on anticoagulation or dual antithrombotic therapy. Therefore, careful preparation before extraction is necessary in these patients.

Bleeding After Dental Extraction in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention During Uninterrupted Single and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy

Purpose

This study aimed to assess bleeding risk after exodontia in patients with recent percutaneous coronary intervention during uninterrupted single or dual antiplatelet therapy.

Study design

A total of 100 patients who had a history of percutaneous stent insertion during the past year candidate for extraction of teeth were included in the study. Fifty patients took aspirin 100mg (monotherapy group), and 50 patients took a combination of aspirin 100mg and clopidogrel 75mg (dual therapy group). After exodontia, the bleeding status was categorized as "complete hemostasis," "persistent bleeding," and "delayed bleeding." Personal data, underlying diseases, number of teeth and roots extracted, and type of procedure required for exodontia were statistically analyzed.

Results

No significant difference was observed in the status of bleeding between the two groups regarding sex, age, underlying diseases, number of teeth and roots extracted, and type of procedure (p > 0.05). 39/50 (78%) of monotherapy patients and 32/50 (64%) of dual therapy patients achieved complete hemostasis. Persistent bleeding was noted in 11/50 (22%) of monotherapy participants, and 14/50 (28%) of dual therapy patients. Only 4/50 (8%) of dual therapy patients experienced delayed bleeding. However, these differences were not significant (p = 0.08). All persistent and delayed bleeding was easily controlled via local measures.

Conclusion

Simple or complicated extraction of multiple teeth can be performed safely during the first year after percutaneous coronary intervention without interruption of antiplatelet therapy.

Perioperative Optimization and Management of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Patient: A Narrative Review on Updates in Anticoagulation, Hypertension and Diabetes Medications

PURPOSE

The preoperative management guidelines of surgical patients are constantly evolving as newer evidence-based research is published. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons need to be current with the increasingly more complex new drug therapies and updated national association(s) guidelines. This narrative review provides a synopsis with important reference tables for updated preoperative optimization guidelines for anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, antihypertensive management, and glycemic control in the preoperative period for the oral and maxillofacial surgery patient. It also includes the most current anesthesia guidelines on glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists.

METHODS

The search strategy utilized pubmed.gov to identify the most recent national society guidelines and review articles pertinent to perioperative anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, antihypertensive management, and glycemic control.

RESULTS

The search identified 75 articles from the American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American College of Cardiologists, in addition to recent reviews discussing the standard of care for optimization of patients in the perioperative period.

CONCLUSION

Medical optimization prior to surgery is important for safe and efficient surgical practice and has been shown to improve overall mortality. This narrative review provides a summary of the current data with recommendations focusing on four key points.

Risk of postoperative bleeding after dental extraction in patients on antiplatelet therapy: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk of bleeding after minor extraction in patients on different antiplatelet therapy (APT) regimens.

STUDY DESIGN

A search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Thirty-five papers were included in the systematic review, of which 23 papers provided the requisite information for meta-analysis. Subgroups were created based on the controls, as follows: (1) no control, (2) healthy control, and (3) interrupted APT control. In a meta-analysis, the studies were further subdivided into immediate and delayed bleeding.

RESULTS

No immediate or delayed bleeding risk was found in patients treated with aspirin vs healthy controls (relative risk [RR] = 1.26; P = .5 and RR = 2.17; P = .09, respectively). A higher immediate bleeding was recorded for patients on single nonaspirin APT vs those in the healthy population (RR = 3.72; P = .0009). A high risk of bleeding was recorded in patients receiving dual APT compared with healthy controls for immediate (RR = 10.3; P < .0001) and delayed (RR = 7.72; P = .001) bleeding. Dual APT continuation showed a higher risk of immediate bleeding (RR = 2.13) than interrupted APT, but the difference was insignificant (P = .07).

CONCLUSIONS

Dental extraction can be performed safely in patients on aspirin monotherapy. In contrast, patients receiving dual APT should be considered at risk for immediate and continued bleeding.

Comparison between two different local hemostatic methods for dental extractions in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy: a within-person, single-blind, randomized study

BACKGROUND

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) provides additional risk reduction of ischemic events compared to aspirin monotherapy, at cost of higher bleeding risk. There are few data comparing new techniques for reducing bleeding after dental extractions in these patients.

PURPOSE

This study investigated the effectiveness of the HemCon Dental Dressing (HDD) compared to oxidized cellulose gauze.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized study included 60 patients on DAPT who required at least two dental extractions (120 procedures). Each surgical site was randomized to HDD or oxidized regenerated cellulose gauze as the local hemostatic method. Intra-oral bleeding time was measured immediately after the dental extraction and represents our main endpoint for comparison of both hemostatic agents. Prolonged bleeding, platelet reactivity measured by Multiplate Analyser (ADPtest and ASPItest) and tissue healing comparison after 7 days were also investigated.

RESULTS

Intra-oral bleeding time was lower in HDD compared with control (2 [2-5] vs. 5 [2-8] minutes, P=0.001). Prolonged postoperative bleeding was observed in 7 cases (11.6%), all of them successfully managed with local sterile gauze pressure. More HDD treated sites presented better healing when compared with control sites [21 (36.8%) vs. 5 (8.8%), P=0.03]. There was poor correlation between platelet reactivity and intra-oral bleeding time.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients on DAPT, HDD resulted in a lower intra-oral bleeding time compared to oxidized cellulose gauze after dental extractions. Moreover, HDD also seems to improve healing conditions.

Provider-directed analgesia for dental pain

INTRODUCTION

Extraction of impacted molar teeth is a common procedure performed by oral surgeons and general dentists, with postoperative pain being a significant adverse event post-surgery. If mismanaged, pain can lead to complications that impact oral and systemic health. The current scourge of the opioid epidemic has ushered in a new era of provider-directed analgesic (PDA) therapy in dentistry.

AREAS COVERED

This article provides an in-depth review on the major pharmacological and therapeutic properties of established and alternative analgesics used to manage dental pain.

EXPERT OPINION

Substantial evidence-based literature shows combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID; e.g. ibuprofen) and acetaminophen provides superior pain relief than single-agent or combination opioid regimens. However, there are clinical scenarios (e.g. severe pain) when short-course opioid prescription is appropriate in select patients, in which a 2-3-day treatment duration is typically sufficient. Alternative agents (e.g. caffeine, gabapentin, phytotherapies), typically in combination with established agents, can mitigate postoperative dental pain. Some evidence suggests preemptive therapies (e.g. corticosteroids, NSAIDs) reduce amounts of postsurgical analgesic consumption and might lessen opioid prescription burden. In summary, this comprehensive review provides an opportune update on the evolving landscape of pharmacotherapy for acute postsurgical dental pain, informing best practices for PDA in the dental setting.

Is Chitosan Dental Dressing Better Than Cotton Gauze in Achieving Hemostasis in Patients on Antithrombotics?

PURPOSE

Tooth extraction leads to bleeding which may be longer in patients on antithrombotics. This study was aimed to evaluate the hemostatic and wound healing efficacy of chitosan-based dressing in comparison to the cotton pressure pack after tooth extraction in patients receiving single or dual antithrombotics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective, randomized split mouth study. Patients undergoing tooth extractions taking either single or dual antithrombotics, with an international normalized ratio (INR) value ≤ 3 were enrolled at JSS Dental College & Hospital, Mysuru, India during February 2020 to January 2022. The study compared the efficiency of chitosan dressing in achieving quicker hemostasis in comparison to cotton pressure pack. The primary outcome was time to achieve hemostasis and the secondary outcomes were alveolar clinical healing index and alveolar osteitis. The covariates were gender, age, reason for extraction, INR, type of antithrombotic therapy, and the disease condition.

RESULTS

Of the 54 enrolled subjects, 39 were males and 15 were females, aged between 33 and 86 years. Thirty six patients were on single antithrombotics, whereas 18 patients were on dual antithrombotics. The reason for extraction was periodontitis in 37 patients and dental caries in 17 patients. The time to achieve hemostasis was lesser with chitosan dental dressing when compared to cotton pressure packs (96 ± 4 and 797 ± 23 seconds; P < .001). In the chitosan group, the time to hemostasis was similar irrespective of single or dual antithrombotic therapy (90 ± 6 and 109 ± 8 seconds, respectively). On the contrary, in the cotton pressure pack group, patients on dual antithrombotics had longer time to achieve hemostasis compared to those on single antithrombotics (940 ± 20 and 726 ± 26 seconds; P < .001). The time to achieve hemostasis was dependent on INR only in cotton pressure pack group (r² = 0.7756). The alveolar clinical healing index was better in 88.9% with chitosan and only 3.7% with cotton pressure packs. None of the patients treated with chitosan presented with alveolar osteitis, as opposed to 3.7% of patients with cotton pressure packs.

CONCLUSION

When compared to cotton pressure packs, chitosan-based dressing was more effective in controlling postoperative bleeding in patients treated with single and dual antithrombotic therapy.

Should we stop dual anti-platelet therapy for dental extractions? An umbrella review for this dental dilemma

OBJECTIVES

Dual Anti-platelet Therapy (DAPT) are prescribed to patients who had or are at risk of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular ischemic events. This umbrella review appraises existing systematic reviews on the risk of bleeding related complications during and after dental extractions for patients on DAPT.

STUDY DATA AND SOURCES

This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered to the PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews) database. A systematic electronic literature search was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, via PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane and Embase.

STUDY SELECTION

Four systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria and were included the analysis. They show DAPT increases the risk of bleeding related complications after dental extractions, but the differences may not be clinically significant as local haemostatic measures were adequate in controlling bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Despite the increased risk of bleeding after dental extractions in patients on DAPT, it may not be necessary to interrupt the anti-platelet therapy. Local haemostatic agents may be sufficient in controlling both the primary or secondary bleeding. On the other hand, the complications of discontinuing DAPT may be more severe and fatal.

Assessment of immediate clotting after flapless extraction using piezosurgery or turbine handpiece in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of piezosurgery (PI) in promoting immediate clotting after flapless extraction in patients undergoing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, 80 DAPT patients were equally divided into the PI and turbine handpiece (TH) groups. Accordingly, flapless extraction of a single tooth using PI or TH was performed on each patient, and the immediate clotting status was evaluated. The results of the preoperative hematological examinations, surgery-related variables and postoperative complications were recorded for analysis.

RESULTS

Both groups presented with low platelet aggregation and similar coagulation functions. The PI group exhibited a higher proportion of patients with normal intra-alveolar clotting (≤30 min) (70% vs. 40%, P = 0.007) and fewer intraoperative complications (25% vs. 47.5%, P = 0.036) than that in the TH group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the applied instrument was an independent risk factor for prolonged immediate bleeding (odds ratio = 3.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.20-8.00, P = 0.019). Intergroup differences were insignificant in terms of the other surgery-related variables and postoperative complications, except for the longer surgical duration in the PI group.

CONCLUSION

The application of PI may contribute to better immediate clotting in DAPT patients after flapless extraction compared with the use of TH.

Evaluating the Need of Continuing the Antiplatelet Drug Therapy in Patients Undergoing Minor Oral Surgical Procedures

Background:

Dental treatment in patients on antiplatelet drug therapy is a long standing debate. Discontinuation of medication increases the risk of thrombotic complications, whereas continuation leads to increased postoperative bleeding.

Aim:

We conducted this prospective cross-sectional study to assess risk of bleeding in patients continuing antiplatelet medication while performing minor oral surgical procedures such as single or multiple teeth extraction, transalveolar extraction of third molar, biopsy, and alveoloplasty.

Materials and Methods:

We calibrated the steps taken to achieve hemostasis, time taken to arrest bleeding, and correlated time taken to achieve hemostasis in patients under antiplatelet drug therapy (Group A [n = 64] - aspirin, Group B [n = 36] - aspirin and clopidogrel) and in patients without any drug therapy (Group C [n = 100] healthy patients).

Results:

Out of 200 patients, Level 1 hemostatic measures were required for 129 (64.5%) patients, Level 2 hemostatic measures were taken for 68 (34.0%) patients, and Level 3 hemostatic measures were taken for 3 (1.5%) patients. Chi-square test conducted to compare the local hemostatic measures taken for minor oral surgical procedure for all groups was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion:

Overall, there was no postoperative bleeding within 24 h of extraction in any patient group. In conclusion, surgical procedures can be safely accomplished in patients receiving single or dual antiplatelet therapy when appropriate local hemostatic measures are taken.

Assessment of laboratory tests and intraoperative bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing tooth extractions

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to quantify intraoperative bleeding in patients with cirrhosis and correlate it with clinical characteristics and laboratory coagulation tests.

STUDY DESIGN

A case-control study was carried out with 74 patients with cirrhosis who were submitted to preoperative coagulation tests (complete blood count, platelet count, prothrombin time/international normalized ratio, thrombin time, activated partial thrombin time, platelet aggregation, fibrinogen, protein C, protein S, antithrombin, and von Willebrand factor level and activity). The levels of nitrogen compounds that can affect the platelet function were determined in saliva and blood by using automated enzymatic-colorimetric assays.

RESULTS

Patients with cirrhosis had changes in almost all coagulation tests. The average volumes of intraoperative bleeding and blood lost per minute in the study group (5.36 mL/min and 0.19 mL/min, respectively) were greater than those in the control group (3.05 mL/min and 0.11 mL/min, respectively; P < .05). In the control group, ascites (P = .012) and presence of periapical lesion (0.034) were positively correlated with bleeding (mL/min). With regard to coagulation tests and nitrogen compounds, only a positively moderate correlation with the platelet aggregation test was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

No patients had hemorrhagic events and it was not possible to correlate a greater amount of bleeding with coagulation tests or nitrogen compounds in the study group.

Analysing the effectiveness of topical bleeding care following tooth extraction in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy-retrospective observational study

Background

Patients using antiplatelet drugs following infarctions, acute coronary syndrome or stroke pose a significant clinical problem if it is necessary to perform surgery, including dental surgery, since they are at risk of prolonged or secondary post-extraction bleeding. Discontinuation of this therapy is associated with a high risk of serious thromboembolic complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of TachoSil fibrin-collagen patches in stopping and preventing of secondary post-extraction bleeding in patients undergoing chronic antiplatelet therapy.

Methods

The study was conducted through retrospective examination of the medical records of 153 patients using chronic antiplatelet therapy and those qualified for tooth extraction. The largest group comprised 74 patients using aspirin and clopidogrel as dual platelet antiaggregation therapy; in this group 75 tooth extractions were carried out. In all of the patients TachoSil fibrin-collagen patches and stiches were applied to the wounds resulting from tooth removal.

Results

Following tooth extraction, primary bleeding was stopped in all the patients and their wounds closed via coagulation within 20–30 min. In eight cases, accounting for 4.9% of the patients, secondary bleeding occurred and was successfully stopped only by applying a pressure dressing soaked in tranexamic acid. Secondary bleeding occurred in three patients on the second day and in five patients on the third day following tooth removal.

Conclusion

Topical application of TachoSil patches following tooth removal in patients using single or dual antiplatelet therapy effectively stopped bleeding and prevented secondary bleeding after tooth extraction.

Ksassbeh A, Alrabadi N. The Knowledge and Perception of Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant agents among Dentists in Northern Jordan

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to describe the attitude and perception toward antiplatelet/anticoagulant agents in patients with cardiovascular diseases among dentists in the northern district of Jordan and to compare the current practice of Jordanian dentists and the recently published guidelines regarding the management of patients taking antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs before dental procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study conducted on dentists and dental interns working at the dental clinics in northern Jordan, including dental clinics at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) and the private sector. The total sample size comprised of 128 subjects (78 dentists from JUST and 50 private practitioners). The participants were interviewed using a preformed questionnaire to assess their knowledge and perceptions regarding the antiplatelets and the anticoagulant agents.

RESULTS

Approximately 61.5% of participants from JUST university and 20.0% of those in the private sector were aware of the use of clopidogrel (P < 0.0001). Although the overall awareness regarding other antiplatelets such as prasugrel was very low (8.6%), dentists from JUST (12.8%) showed a significantly higher level of awareness compared to the private practitioners (2.0%) (P = 0.049). More than 70% of the participants from JUST and only 46.0% of the private practitioners were aware of the consequences of interrupting treatment with clopidogrel in patients with coronary stents (P = 0.002). Almost both the participants from JUST (25.78%) and the private sector (24.22%) are consulting the cardiologists with similar frequencies before interrupting the treatment with the antiplatelet/anticoagulant agents. Participants who have clinical PhD qualifications are more aware of the recent clinical guidelines and the newest agents compared to others.

CONCLUSIONS

The awareness regarding the newest antiplatelet/anticoagulant agents is poor among the dentists in northern Jordan. However, the majority (62.3%) of them realize the consequences of interrupting such treatments in patients with coronary stents. Unfortunately, only a quarter of the dentists are consulting the cardiologists before interrupting the treatment with the antiplatelet agents. Proper education, courses, and workshops should be performed to the dentists to improve their knowledge about this critical issue.

Post-extraction bleeding complications in patients on uninterrupted dual antiplatelet therapy-a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Dental surgeons consider patients on antiplatelet therapy (APT) to be at a risk for perioperative bleeding during dental extraction. This fear often prompts them to consider a temporary withdrawal of the medication for a few days before extraction. Such withdrawal can have serious consequences, especially in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to analyze if patients on uninterrupted DAPT undergoing dental extractions had an increased risk of bleeding complications when compared with patients on no antiplatelet therapy.

METHODS

This prospective study included 120 DAPT patients and an equal number of age- and gender-matched non-APT patients undergoing dental extractions. Immediate and delayed bleeding complications in both groups were recorded. Interventions required to control the post-extraction hemorrhage were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Duration of DAPT medication ranged from 6 months to 13 years. Post-percutaneous coronary intervention was the most common cause for DAPT. A vast majority of patients in both groups underwent extraction of one or two teeth. Patients on DAPT had a 7-fold increased risk of immediate bleeding complications when compared with control group. All bleeding episodes were controlled with local hemostatic measures. Transalveolar extractions and localized periodontitis had a significant relationship to bleeding complications.

CONCLUSION

This study observed an increase in the risk of prolonged bleeding in uninterrupted DAPT patients undergoing dental extractions. Bleeding episodes were amenable to local hemostatic measures with favorable outcomes.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Dental extractions in patients on uninterrupted DAPT can be done safely. Resorting to temporary withdrawal of DAPT due to a fear of excessive bleeding is unnecessary.

Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases: Consensus report

BACKGROUND

In Europe cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for 3.9 million deaths (45% of deaths), being ischaemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension (leading to heart failure) the major cause of these CVD related deaths. Periodontitis is also a chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) with a high prevalence, being severe periodontitis, affecting 11.2% of the world's population, the sixth most common human disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There is now a significant body of evidence to support independent associations between severe periodontitis and several NCDs, in particular CVD. In 2012 a joint workshop was held between the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the American Academy of Periodontology to review the literature relating periodontitis and systemic diseases, including CVD. In the last five years important new scientific information has emerged providing important emerging evidence to support these associations RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The present review reports the proceedings of the workshop jointly organised by the EFP and the World Heart Federation (WHF), which has updated the existing epidemiological evidence for significant associations between periodontitis and CVD, the mechanistic links and the impact of periodontal therapy on cardiovascular and surrogate outcomes. This review has also focused on the potential risk and complications of periodontal therapy in patients on anti thrombotic therapy and has made recommendations for dentists, physicians and for patients visiting both the dental and medical practices.

Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Diseases. Consensus Report

Background

In Europe cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for 3.9 million deaths (45% of deaths), being ischaemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension (leading to heart failure) the major cause of these CVD related deaths. Periodontitis is also a chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) with a high prevalence, being severe periodontitis, affecting 11.2% of the world's population, the sixth most common human disease.

Material and Methods

There is now a significant body of evidence to support independent associations between severe periodontitis and several NCDs, in particular CVD. In 2012 a joint workshop was held between the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the American Academy of Periodontology to review the literature relating periodontitis and systemic diseases, including CVD. In the last five years important new scientific information has emerged providing important emerging evidence to support these associations.

Results and Conclusions

The present review reports the proceedings of the workshop jointly organised by the EFP and the World Heart Federation (WHF), which has updated the existing epidemiological evidence for significant associations between periodontitis and CVD, the mechanistic links and the impact of periodontal therapy on cardiovascular and surrogate outcomes. This review has also focused on the potential risk and complications of periodontal therapy in patients on anti thrombotic therapy and has made recommendations for dentists, physicians and for patients visiting both the dental and medical practices.

Effect of clopidogrel in bone healing-experimental study in rabbits

BACKGROUND

Clopidogrel is a widely prescribed drug for prevention of myocardial infarction and stroke in patients at risk. It inhibits thrombus formation via inhibition of the P2Y12 purinergic receptor on platelets, which is important in their activation by ADP. However, the P2Y12 receptor has also been found to be expressed in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Accumulated evidence suggests that purinergic receptors regulate important functions of bone turnover. Previous studies on the effect of clopidogrel on bone metabolism indicated potential harmful effects, but their results remain conflicting. Thus, clopidogrel treatment may affect bone healing, but it has not yet been studied.

AIM

To evaluate if continuous perioperative clopidogrel treatment has any negative effect on bone healing in the rabbit calvarial defect model.

METHODS

Sixteen male white New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned in two groups: One group received daily 3 mg/kg of clopidogrel per os and the other group received the vehicle alone for a week prior to the surgical procedures; the treatments were continued for another 6 wk postoperatively. The surgical procedures included generation of two circular calvarial defects 11 mm in diameter in every animal. After the 6-wk period of healing, postmortem radiographic and histomorphometric evaluation of the defects was performed.

RESULTS

Both the surgical procedures and the postoperative period were uneventful and well tolerated by all the animals, without any surgical wound dehiscence, signs of infection or other complication. New bone was formed either inwards from the defect margins or in the central portion of the defect as separated bony islets. While defect healing was still incomplete in both groups, the clopidogrel group had significantly improved radiographic healing scores. Moreover, the histomorphometric analysis showed that bone regeneration (%) was 28.07 ± 7.7 for the clopidogrel group and 19.47 ± 4.9 for the control group, showing a statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.018). Statistically significant difference was also found in the defect bridging (%), i.e. 72.17 ± 21.2 for the clopidogrel group and 41.17 ± 8.5 for the control group, respectively (P = 0.004), whereas there was no statistical difference in bone tissue density between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that maintenance of perioperative clopidogrel treatment does not negatively affect bone healing but rather promotes it. Further research is needed in order to find useful applications of this finding.

Management of anticoagulated patients in dentoalveolar surgery: a clinical comparative study

OBJECTIVES

This prospective, comparative, clinical study analyzed the postoperative bleeding risk of patients on anticoagulation therapy (AT) who were undergoing tooth extractions and osteotomies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with the following ATs were included (test groups): (1.) platelet aggregation inhibitors (PAIs), (2.) vitamin K inhibitors, (3.) low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and (4.) direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Patients in the control group were not on any AT (non-AT group). Patients were subdivided into the following treatment groups: (1.) single tooth extraction, (2.) serial extraction (≥ 2 adjacent teeth), and (3.) tooth osteotomy. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative data concerning the treatment, extent of the surgery, and bleeding were recorded and statistically evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 15 postoperative bleeding events in 838 patients (1.7%): four (0.7%) in the non-AT group (n = 603 patients) and 11 (4.7%) in the AT group (n = 235 patients). The surgical procedure had no statistically significant effect on postoperative bleeding frequencies. Patients taking vitamin K inhibitors had a significantly higher risk of postoperative bleeding compared with patients without AT (p < 0.00001). Four patients were hospitalized due to the severity of the bleeding (vitamin K inhibitor group). Postoperative bleeding events were all controlled with local hemostatic measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The postoperative bleeding risk after tooth extractions and osteotomies in patients continuing AT is low, and bleeding can be controlled with local hemostatic measures.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

AT should be continued in patients undergoing tooth removal procedures under the provision that local hemostatic measures are applied.

Bleeding frequency of patients taking ticagrelor, aspirin, clopidogrel, and dual antiplatelet therapy after tooth extraction and minor oral surgery

BACKGROUND

Perioperative bleeding complications of ticagrelor, a newer oral antiplatelet, has not been studied in dentistry. Studies about bleeding status after oral surgical procedures in patients receiving continued antiplatelet therapy are also limited. We investigated the effects of continuing aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, or dual antiplatelet therapy on the frequency of bleeding events in patients undergoing tooth extractions or minor oral surgery.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patient demographic characteristics, medical history, type of antiplatelet therapy, dental procedures, and perioperative bleeding associated with tooth extraction or other minor oral surgical procedures were obtained from the dental records of 222 patients. Bleeding was classified as normal, mild, moderate, or severe.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty-eight patients (75.7%) had 1 or more teeth extracted, and 54 patients (24.3%) underwent other minor oral surgical procedures. The most common single antiplatelet regimen was aspirin (n = 123; 55.4%), followed by clopidogrel (n = 22; 9.9%) and ticagrelor (n = 17; 7.7%). Sixty patients (27%) received dual antiplatelet therapy. The overall frequency of postoperative bleeding was 4.9% (11 of 222). The frequencies of postoperative bleeding in the aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and dual antiplatelet therapy groups were 3.2%, 4.5%, 5.9%, and 8.3%, respectively (P ≥ .5). None of the patients experienced prolonged bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients taking aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, and dual antiplatelet therapy experienced acceptable rates of controllable postoperative bleeding after tooth extraction or minor oral surgical procedures.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

In accordance with recommendations from published studies and guidelines, antiplatelet medications, including dual antiplatelet therapy, should not be interrupted for tooth extractions or minor oral surgery.

Oral surgery in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent thrombosis, other associated autoimmune disease, and/or obstetrical morbidity along with persistent production of antiphospholipid antibodies. Because of the nature of this systemic disease, most patients are medicated with antithrombotic agents and abundant glucocorticoids. This study reports a cohort of 16 patients with APS, who underwent oral surgery between 2010 and 2017 at the Nagasaki University Hospital. Because oral antithrombotic therapy was continued in the perioperative period, all wounds were strictly closed by suturing to prevent postoperative bleeding. Perioperative laboratory dates and medications were assessed. All patients achieved local postoperative hemostasis and did not exhibit systemic complications. Moreover, there were no postoperative systemic and/or local infections. Oral surgeons should suture oral wounds and ensure local hemostasis to prevent postoperative bleeding. Because patients with APS are likely to develop thrombosis despite continued administration of antithrombotic medications, strict perioperative examination of blood coagulation is needed. Furthermore, it is important to consider the damage and stress caused due to oral surgery. Moreover, when necessary, glucocorticoid therapy should be carefully administered, in accordance with the degree of invasion and judgment of the attending physician.

Incidence of bleeding after minor oral surgery in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Bleeding is a feared complication of minor oral surgery in patients on treatment with antiplatelet agents and there is no agreed strategy regarding the cessation or not of antiplatelet treatment. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate bleeding with minor oral surgery in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), or no antiplatelet therapy (no APT). The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were screened. Sixteen studies were included. DAPT was continued in all studies. The perioperative bleeding risk was significantly higher for DAPT than for SAPT (risk ratio (RR) 10.16, P= 0.010; risk difference (RD) 0.35, P= 0.269), but not higher compared to no APT (RR 6.50, P= 0.057; RD 0.19, P= 0.060). The postoperative bleeding risk was significantly elevated for DAPT compared to SAPT (RR 2.61, P= 0.010) and no APT (RR 3.63, P= 0.035), but only by 1% (RD 0.01, P= 0.103) and 1% (RD 0.01, P= 0.421), respectively. Clinically, this may be considered quite similar. Additionally, local haemostatic measures could control all reported bleeding and no lethal events occurred. Therefore, DAPT interruption is not advised before minor oral surgery.

Safety of dental extractions in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy - a meta-analysis

Introduction

Safety of dental extractions in patients on chronic antiplatelet therapy either with only acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or clopidogrel or with both combined has been a matter of debate, with no clearly conclusive studies published.

Aim

To perform a meta-analysis of published observational studies in order to study the effect of single and double antiplatelet therapy in comparison to controls on the occurrence of immediate local bleeding complications during dental extractions.

Material and methods

PubMed/Scopus/Embase database search revealed 22 papers (13 original and 9 review), 3 of which were finally included in the meta-analysis. Phrases searched: dual[All Fields] AND antiplatelet[All Fields] AND (“therapy”[Subheading] OR “therapy”[All Fields] OR “therapeutics”[MeSH Terms] OR “therapeutics”[All Fields]) AND (“tooth extraction”[MeSH Terms] OR (“tooth”[All Fields] AND “extraction”[All Fields]) OR “tooth extraction”[All Fields]).

Results

The overall event incidence (bleeding complication after extraction) in the entire population was 1.59% (42 events in 2637 patients). As compared to the control group, the use of double antiplatelet therapy DAPT was associated with on odd ratio OR of 40.23 (95% CI: 4.37–370.36) increase in risk of bleeding events occurrence (p = 0.0011). Significant heterogeneity was observed (p < 0.001; I² of 76.7%).

Conclusions

Dental extractions following strict procedural protocols in patients on double antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and ASA are associated with an additional risk of immediate local bleeding complications.

American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) Consensus on the Rational Use of Antithrombotics in Veterinary Critical Care (CURATIVE) guidelines: Small animal

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review available evidence and establish guidelines related to the risk of developing thrombosis and the management of small animals with antithrombotics.

DESIGN

Standardized, systematic evaluation of the literature (identified by searching Medline via PubMed and CAB abstracts) was carried out in 5 domains (Defining populations at risk; Defining rational therapeutic use; Defining evidence-based protocols; Refining and monitoring antithrombotic therapies; and Discontinuing antithrombotic therapies). Evidence evaluation was carried out using Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome generated within each domain questions to address specific aims. This was followed by categorization of relevant articles according to level of evidence and quality (Good, Fair, or Poor). Synthesis of these data led to the development of a series of statements. Consensus on the final guidelines was achieved via Delphi-style surveys. Draft recommendations were presented at 2 international veterinary conferences and made available for community assessment, review, and comment prior to final revisions and publication.

SETTINGS

Academic and referral veterinary medical centers.

RESULTS

Over 500 studies were reviewed in detail. Worksheets from all 5 domains generated 59 statements with 83 guideline recommendations that were refined during 3 rounds of Delphi surveys. A high degree of consensus was reached across all guideline recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, systematic evidence evaluations yielded more than 80 recommendations for the treatment of small animals with or at risk of developing thrombosis. Numerous significant knowledge gaps were highlighted by the evidence reviews undertaken, indicating the need for substantial additional research in this field.

Consensus on the Rational Use of Antithrombotics in Veterinary Critical Care (CURATIVE): Domain 5-Discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy in small animals

OBJECTIVES

To systematically evaluate the evidence supporting the timing and mechanisms of permanent or temporary discontinuation of antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications in small animals DESIGN: Standardized, systematic evaluation of the literature, categorization of relevant articles according to level of evidence and quality (poor, fair, or good), and development of consensus on conclusions via a Delphi-style survey for application of the concepts to clinical practice.

SETTINGS

Academic and referral veterinary medical centers.

RESULTS

Databases searched included Medline via PubMed and CAB abstracts. Two specific courses of inquiry were pursued, one focused on appropriate approaches to use for small animal patients receiving antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs and requiring temporary discontinuation of this therapy for the purposes of invasive procedures (eg, surgery), and the other aimed at decision-making for the complete discontinuation of anticoagulant medications. In addition, the most appropriate methodology for discontinuation of heparins was addressed.

CONCLUSIONS

To better define specific patient groups, a risk stratification characterization was developed. It is recommended to continue anticoagulant therapy through invasive procedures in patients at high risk for thrombosis that are receiving anticoagulant therapy, while consideration for discontinuation in patients with low to moderate risk of thrombosis is reasonable. In patients with thrombosis in whom the underlying cause for thrombosis has resolved, indefinite treatment with anticoagulant medication is not recommended. If the underlying cause is unknown or untreatable, anticoagulant medication should be continued indefinitely. Unfractionated heparin therapy should be slowly tapered rather than discontinued abruptly.

Management of dental extractions in patients on warfarin and antiplatelet therapy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Planning dental extractions for Taiwanese patients on antithrombotic therapy remains controversial. This study aimed to examine management of dental extraction in patients on warfarin and antiplatelet therapy.

METHODS

Subjects comprised 1331 patients, with (1) 60 on warfarin with intentional normalized ratio (INR) below 4.0 (warfarin continued: 28 patients/33 occasions; warfarin stopped and switched to heparin under hospitalization: 32 patients/37 occasions); (2) 183 on antiplatelet therapy (aspirin: 125 patients/185 occasions; clopidogrel: 42 patients/65 occasions; dual therapy: 16 patients/24 occasions); and (3) a control group of 1088 patients/1472 occasions without any antithrombotic therapy. The patient's clinico-demographic parameters, warfarin effectiveness (dose and INR levels) and antiplatelet therapy, number and type of dental extraction and incidence of postoperative bleeding were investigated.

RESULTS

Incidence of postoperative bleeding in the warfarinized group (warfarin continued: 9.1%; warfarin stopped: 8.1%) was higher than in the antiplatelet group (aspirin: 1.1%; clopidogrel: 3.1%; dual antiplatelet: 4.2%), and the control group (0.7%), but these differences were not significant and unrelated to INR or number and type of dental extraction. Postoperative hemorrhage was managed successfully by repacking with Gelfoam impregnated with tranexamic acid powder in most patients.

CONCLUSION

The study indicated that there is no need to interrupt warfarin (INR<4.0) and antiplatelet therapy before dental extractions in Taiwanese patients. A sufficient hemostasis could be obtained using local measures. This approach can save these individuals from becoming exposed to the risk of thromboembolism and the inconvenience of bridging anticoagulation with heparin.

Dental management of patient with dual antiplatelet therapy: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

It is more common to need dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for patients who had recently inserted coronary artery stent. However, the postoperative bleeding risk of patients in DAPT could significantly increase. The dental management of patients with antithrombotic therapy has always been a controversial problem. Focusing on this issue, this review discussed the available evidence to provide optimal strategy for patients taking dual antiplatelet agents in the dental setting.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) which was performed in May 2018. Relevant articles were included according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was conducted with fixed effects models. Subgroup analysis was used due to different dental surgeries.

RESULTS

Our meta-analysis included ten studies (continue DAPT vs. placebo, 535 patients vs.2907 patients). The quantitative results indicated that the risk of postoperative bleeding with continuing DAPT experienced significantly increase (RR = 1.95 95% CI [1.07, 3.54]; p = 0.03). There was no statistically significant difference between the postoperative bleeding rate and different dental surgeries (p = 0.72).

CONCLUSION

On the current studies, postoperative hemorrhage is exacerbated with DAPT, but it could be controlled by enhancing hemostasis methods. We recommend continuing long-term DAPT before tooth extraction.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

In this work, we systematically evaluated and summarized the results of small clinical trials after reviewing the present literatures on this topic, so that we could propose more objective and more accurate evidence-based recommendations on dental management for patient with dual antiplatelet therapy.

Management of dental patients receiving antiplatelet therapy or chronic oral anticoagulation: A review of the latest evidence

The perioperative management of patients treated with antithrombotic medications who undergo surgical procedures represents a common clinical problem. Dental interventions are usually associated with a low risk of bleeding; however, the dental implications of new antithrombotic agents are not yet fully understood. The present review is based on the latest evidence and recommendations published on the periprocedural management of dental patients treated with single or dual antiplatelet therapy, vitamin K antagonists, or direct oral anticoagulants for a variety of indications.

Impact of Post-Exodontia Bleeding in Cardiovascular Patients: A New Classification Proposal

Background:

Exodontia (dental extraction), being the most frequent minor surgical procedure in the general population, inevitably involves a large number of patients on antithrombotic medication. Current experience shows that there is a degree of confusion in managing these patients.

Description:

Post-exodontia bleeding, a natural consequence of every dental extraction with no or minor clinical significance in the vast majority of cases, often appears to be of major concern to both patients and healthcare practitioners (dentists or physicians), either because of the alarming nature of oral bleeding itself or because of the distorted perception about its importance. These concerns are enhanced by the lack of a universal standardized definition of post-exodontia bleeding and by the fact that all currently available post-exodontia bleeding definitions bear intrinsic limitations and tend to overestimate its clinical significance.

Conclusion:

In order to overcome the aforementioned issues, this article presents an overview of post-extraction bleeding and proposes a classification, based on the well-recognized Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) bleeding definition, aiming at reducing heterogeneity in this field.

Direct oral anticoagulants and its implications in dentistry. A review of literature

BACKGROUND

Four novel direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) named dabigatran, rivaroxaban, edoxaban and apixaban have been recently introduced to overcome some of the drawbacks of existing anticoagulants. They have less interactions and do not require routine monitoring. However, there is not enough scientific data about the protocol to apply in these patients on DOACs undergoing dental treatment. Thus is necessary to evaluate the potential bleeding risk of these drugs, the possibility of thromboembolic events occurring if they are withdrawn or the need to change to heparin previously.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases was conducted to identify studies that evaluated the relationship between direct oral anticoagulants and dental procedures. The quality of the reported information was assessed following the PRISMA statement.

RESULTS

Eleven studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review: 2 randomized clinical trials, 3 prospective studies, 3 retrospective studies, 2 case series and 1 case report.

CONCLUSIONS

DOACs are safe drugs in terms of bleeding. The possible postoperative bleeding complications are manageable with conventional haemostasis measurements. The bridging approach with heparin does not seem to be recommended. Consensus among the professionals involved in the management of the patient is fundamental in invasive dental treatments and in complex patients. Key words:Oral anticoagulants, DOAC, NOAC, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, bleeding, oral surgery.

Risk of Hemorrhage Attributed to Underlying Chronic Diseases and Uninterrupted Aspirin Therapy of Patients Undergoing Minor Oral Surgical Procedures: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives

This study aimed to estimate the risk of bleeding following minor oral surgical procedures and uninterrupted aspirin therapy in high-risk patients or patients with existing chronic diseases compared to patients who did not use aspirin during minor oral surgery at a public hospital.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed the data of 2912 patients, aged 20 years or older, who underwent 5251 minor oral surgical procedures at a district hospital in Thailand. The aspirin group was comprised of patients continuing aspirin therapy during oral surgery. The non-aspirin group (reference) included all those who did not use aspirin during surgery. Immediate and late-onset bleeding was evaluated in each procedure. The risk ratio of bleeding was estimated using a multilevel Poisson regression.

Results

The overall cumulative incidence of immediate bleeding was 1.3% of total procedures. No late-onset bleeding was found. A significantly greater incidence of bleeding was found in the aspirin group (5.8% of procedures, p<0.001). After adjusting for covariates, a multilevel Poisson regression model estimated that the bleeding risk in the aspirin group was 4.5 times higher than that of the non-aspirin group (95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 10.0; p<0.001). However, all bleeding events were controlled by simple hemostatic measures.

Conclusions

High-risk patients or patients with existing chronic diseases who continued aspirin therapy following minor oral surgery were at a higher risk of hemorrhage than general patients who had not used aspirin. Nonetheless, bleeding complications were not life-threatening and could be promptly managed by simple hemostatic measures. The procedures could therefore be provided with an awareness of increased bleeding risk, prepared hemostatic measures, and postoperative monitoring, without the need for discontinuing aspirin, which could lead to more serious complications.

Whole Blood Platelet Aggregation Test and Prediction of Hemostatic Difficulty After Tooth Extraction in Patients Receiving Antiplatelet Therapy

When patients on antiplatelet therapy (APT) require minor invasive surgery, APT is usually continued to limit the risk of thrombosis. However, the possibility of hemostatic difficulties necessitates the monitoring of platelet aggregation to prevent unexpected bleeding. We examined whether whole blood aggregometry as a point-of-care testing (POCT) could be useful as a tool for predicting hemostatic difficulties. Sixty-five patients receiving APT and 15 patients who were not receiving APT were enrolled in the present study; all patients were scheduled to undergo a tooth extraction. Whole blood samples were obtained and were examined using multiple electrode aggregometry. The aggregometry was performed using arachidonic acid (AA), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and thrombin receptor activating peptide. Hemostatic difficulty was defined as a need for more than 10 minutes of compression to achieve hemostasis. The AA test results were significantly lower in patients treated with aspirin (control: 97.7 [29.0] U, aspirin: 14.5 [7.2] U, P < .001). The ADP test results were also significantly lower in patients treated with a P2Y₁₂ inhibitor (control: 77.7 [21.7] U, P2Y₁₂ inhibitor: 37.3 [20.4] U, P < .01). Six of the examined cases exhibited hemostatic difficulties. The cutoff values for the prediction of hemostatic difficulty were 16.5 U for the AA test (sensitivity, 0.833; specificity, 0.508) and 21 U for the ADP test (sensitivity, 0.847; specificity, 0.500). Our study showed that whole blood aggregometry was useful as a POCT for the prediction of hemostatic difficulties after tooth extraction in patients receiving APT.

Exodontia in dual antiplatelet therapy: the evidence

BACKGROUND

Haemostasis is crucial for the success of oral surgical treatment as bleeding problems can cause complications both pre- and post-operatively. Patients on antiplatelet drugs present a challenge due to their increased risk of bleeding.

AIMS

To identify a protocol for the management of oral surgery patients on dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel).

METHODS

A literature review was conducted in January 2016 of free-text and MESH searches (keywords: aspirin, clopidogrel and dental extractions) in the Cochrane Library, PubMed and CINAHL. Trial registers, professional bodies for guidelines and OpenGrey for unpublished literature were also searched. Studies were selected for appraisal after limits were applied (adult, human and English only studies) and inclusion/exclusion criteria imposed.

RESULTS

Eight studies were identified for critical appraisal using the CASP tools. These were a combination of retrospective, prospective, cohort and case control studies. Napenas et al. and Park et al. found no statistically significant risk of postoperative bleeding complications in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy. Girotra et al., Lillis et al., Omar et al. and Olmos-Carrasco et al., however, found statistically significant risk of postoperative bleeding in this group of patients, all of which can be controlled with local measures.

CONCLUSION

Patients on dual antiplatelet therapy - although at an increased risk of postoperative bleeding complications - can be managed safely with local haemostatic measures and without the need to discontinue antiplatelet therapy.

Clopidogrel is not associated with increased bleeding complications after full-mouth extraction: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

To the authors' knowledge, the effect of clopidogrel on bleeding complications during full-mouth extraction has not been studied. The authors aimed to determine the safety of continued use of clopidogrel during full-mouth extraction.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing full-mouth extraction who were taking aspirin, clopidogrel, a combination of aspirin and clopidogrel, or neither. The main study outcomes in the 4 study groups were estimated blood loss, transfusion requirements, and complications. The authors also examined the correlation between the number of teeth extracted and estimated blood loss in various groups.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients underwent full-mouth extraction with removal of an average of 19 teeth. The authors excluded 3 patients owing to lack of data regarding blood loss. Of the remaining 68 patients, 25 were using aspirin, 12 were using clopidogrel, 9 were using both aspirin and clopidogrel, and 22 had discontinued the use of antiplatelets. There was no significant difference in the number of teeth extracted (P = .283) and estimated blood loss (P = .111) among the 4 groups. The authors found a significant moderate correlation between the number of teeth extracted and estimated blood loss in the group using aspirin (r = 0.537; P = .006) and in the group using clopidogrel, whether alone or in combination with aspirin (r = 0.535; P = .012), but not in the group who discontinued the use of antiplatelets. There was no need for blood transfusion in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provide limited evidence to suggest that continuation of clopidogrel during full-mouth extraction and preprosthetic surgery may be safe and does not appear to be associated with a significant risk of bleeding.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Clopidogrel therapy during full-mouth extraction is not associated with significant bleeding complications and may be continued in patients who have a high risk of experiencing a cardiac event.

Dual anti-platelet therapy and dento-alveolar surgery. How do we manage patients on anti-platelet medication?

OBJECTIVE

The optimum management of dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) in patients undergoing dentoalveolar surgery is controversial. The lack of guidelines has meant clinicians have been left to manage these cases from specialist advice or past experience. In view of this the British Association of Oral Surgeons (BAOS) membership was surveyed to assess current practice.

DESIGN

An electronic survey consisting of nine closed multiple-choice questions was circulated to all 435 registered BAOS members. A section for open comments was also included. The data was transcribed, organised and reduced to themes by hand and finally analysed.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty members completed the questionnaire giving a response rate of 41%. Ninety-two percent of clinicians had direct involvement in managing patients on DAPT and of these 80% had not encountered a bleeding complication. DAPT was continued for simple dental extraction under local anaesthetic by 83% of respondents and 73% for surgical extractions. Two thirds of the respondents did not follow any guidelines but for those that did the most common was the UK Medicines Information protocols. Only 10% of respondents reported a significant post-operative bleeding complication following surgery in patients on DAPT.

CONCLUSION

This survey confirmed the continued variable management of patients on DAPT undergoing dentoalveolar surgery. Reported bleeding rates were low with over 75% of patients not having their DAPT treatment interrupted.

Clinical Trial Evaluating the Risk of Thromboembolic Events During Dental Extractions

PURPOSE

Discontinuation of anti-platelet therapy increases the risk of thrombotic complications whereas its continuation is believed to increase the risk of prolonged post-extraction bleeding. We therefore, performed this study to evaluate the risk of significant bleeding following dental extractions and also to assess the necessity of discontinuing anti-platelet therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three hundred patients requiring dental extraction were included in the study in which 200 patients were on anti-platelet therapy. Patients were divided into three groups of 100 patients each. Group 1 consisted of patients continuing their anti-platelet therapy, Group 2 consisted of patients whose anti-platelet therapy was interrupted and Group 3 comprised of healthy patients not on anti-platelet therapy. Preoperative bleeding and clotting time were determined for all patients. The procedure involved single or multiple teeth (>3 teeth) extractions under local anesthesia with a vasoconstrictor. Pressure pack was given in all cases as in routine dental extractions and bleeding was checked after 15, 30 min, 1, 24, 48 h and 1 week. Immediate post-extraction bleeding was considered to be prolonged if it continued beyond 30 min in spite of the pressure pack. Late and very late bleeding was considered to be clinically significant if it extended beyond 12 and 24 h respectively.

RESULTS

The mean bleeding time in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 1 min and 32 s, 1 min and 25 s, and 1 min and 27 s, respectively. Prolonged immediate post-extraction bleeding (bleeding after 30 min) was present among 9 patients in Group 1 (9 %) and 15 patients in Group 2 (15 %) whereas it was not seen in any patient of Group 3. Bleeding after 1 h was present in 9 patients of Group 2 (9 %) and was controlled with gelatin sponge within half an hour thereafter. None of the patients in any group reported with bleeding after 24, 48 h and 1 week.

CONCLUSION

Dental extractions can be safely carried out in patients on anti-platelet therapy without the risk of significant post-extraction bleeding thus averting the risk of thromboembolic events that might take place on temporary discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy.

Dental extraction without stopping single or dual antiplatelet therapy: results of a retrospective cohort study

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of bleeding after dental extraction without stopping antiplatelet therapy. Postoperative bleeding was assessed in a total of 1271 patients who were divided into two groups: a study group comprising 183 patients on antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 125 patients/185 occasions; clopidogrel 42 patients/65 occasions; dual therapy 16 patients/24 occasions) who underwent 548 dental extractions on 274 occasions, and a control group comprising 1088 patients who were not receiving any antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy and underwent 2487 dental extractions on 1472 occasions. The incidence of postoperative bleeding was higher in the study group (5/274, 1.8%) than in the control group (10/1472, 0.7%), and also in the dual antiplatelet subgroup (1/24, 4.2%) than in the single antiplatelet subgroups (clopidogrel: 2/65, 3.1%; aspirin: 2/185, 1.1%); however, these differences were not significant. Postoperative bleeding was managed successfully by repacking with Gelfoam impregnated with tranexamic acid powder in 12 patients and by resuturing in three of the control patients undergoing extraction of impacted teeth with flap elevation. These findings indicate that there is no need to interrupt antiplatelet drugs before dental extraction.

Bleeding after tooth extraction in patients taking aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix®) compared with healthy controls

The risk of perioperative bleeding is high in patients who take aspirin and clopidogrel after a percutaneous coronary intervention, and whether to stop the drugs is a matter of concern for dentists. The aim of this study was to answer the specific question: should aspirin and clopidogrel bisulphate (Plavix®) be discontinued during a conventional forceps extraction? We studied 64 patients during the first year after percutaneous insertion of coronary stents who were taking aspirin (ASA) 80mg and clopidogrel (Plavix(®)) 75mg, and 50 healthy patients who were to have a conventional forceps extraction at this polyclinic in 2013-2014 and acted as controls. Clinical details (underlying diseases; number of roots; type of tooth; type of haemostasis; and bleeding immediately, 30minutes, and 48hours after intervention) were compared. We evaluated 114 patients with the mean (range) age of 56 (43-76) years, and there were no significant differences in demographic data, underlying diseases, type of tooth, number of roots, and dose of anaesthetic between the groups. There were also no significant differences in the number of bleeds immediately and 30minutes after intervention (P=0.310 and 0.205). The time that the last dose of aspirin had been taken correlated with 30-minute haemostasis (20 compared with 12hours, p=0.037). During the 48hours after the intervention, there were no uncontrolled bleeds or emergency referrals. We conclude that using aspirin and Plavix® simultaneously has no considerable effect on the risk of bleeding in patients having conventional forceps extraction of a single tooth.

A New Generation of Antiplatelet, and Anticoagulant Medication and the Implications for the Dental Surgeon

The management of dental patients taking either antiplatelet medication, anticoagulant medication or both has been well established in the previous literature. Recently, new generations of drugs have emerged which are becoming increasingly common, including direct thrombin inhibitors, factor X inhibitors and a new class of oral thienopyridines. The implications of these drugs for the dental surgeon are not yet fully known. Awareness remains low and there is very little information available within the literature on safe use during surgery. This review paper aims to provide some guidance for dental practitioners performing invasive procedures. CPD/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A new generation of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs have serious implications for patients undergoing surgery and their use is increasing.

No evidence for stopping long-term aspirin therapy before tooth extraction

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, ScienceDirect and EBSCOhost databases.

STUDY SELECTION

Prospective randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled trials.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two independent investigators extracted data. The primary measured outcomes were rates of haemorrhage and bleeding time. Disagreements were clarified with a third investigator. Relevant authors were contacted if any relevant data was missing. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to evaluate the overall quality of evidence. The authors used standardised mean difference or relative risk to evaluate each outcome.

RESULTS

Ten studies were included, three randomised controlled trials and seven controlled trials. A total of 1752 patients were enrolled in the meta-analysis; the study group comprised 529 patients on long-term aspirin therapy, and the control group comprised 1223 patients. The risk of post-operative haemorrhage was significantly higher in patients on aspirin therapy (relative risk=2.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.45-4.81) but bleeding time was not significantly different between the two groups (standardised mean difference=0.63; 95% CI: - 0.04 to 1.31).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased rates of haemorrhage are observed in patients on long-term aspirin therapy. The authors recommend not stopping long-term aspirin prior to dental extraction, and local measures for haemostasis should be enhanced when required.

Management of Antithrombotic Agents in Oral Surgery Maria Martinez and Dimitrios A. Tsakiris

Systemic anticoagulation with intravenous or oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents is an efficient treatment against thromboembolic or cardiovascular disease. Invasive dental procedures or oral surgery might be associated with bleeding complications if carried out under anticoagulants. Patients on vitamin K antagonists, new direct anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents having dental interventions with low-risk for bleeding do not need interruption of anticoagulation. In case of bleeding complications local hemostatic measures, such as local surgical sutures, fibrin glue, local antifibrinolytic treatment with tranexamic acid, or e-aminocaproic acid suffice to stop bleeding. In patients with high risk of bleeding an individual assessment of the benefit/risk ratio of interrupting anticoagulation should be carried out. Bridging the long-term anticoagulation with short-term anticoagulants should be planned according to national or international guidelines. The introduction of the newer direct oral anticoagulants having more flexible pharmacokinetic properties has facilitated bridging, allowing short-term interruption without increasing the risk of relapsing thrombotic or cardiovascular events.

Dental extraction in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy

Background

Dual anti platelet therapy consists of administering antiplatelet (antiaggregant) drugs (clopidogrel and aspirin) to prevent thrombotic processes, as a preventative measure in patients with acute coronary disease, or in patients subjected to percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a protocol for performing dental extraction in patients receiving dual anti platelet therapy.

Material and Methods

Thirty-two patients undergoing dental extractions were included in the study. The variables evaluated were: collagen-epinephrine fraction, collagen- adenosine diphosphate fraction, surgical surface, post-surgical measures, and adverse effects. Alveolar sutures and gauzes impregnated with an antifibrinolytic agent (tranexamic acid), which the patient pressed in place for 30 minutes, were applied to all patients as post-surgical measures. Descriptive statistics were calculated and analyzed with Student’s t-test to compare pairs of quantitative variables; simple regression analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

Collagen/epinephrine fraction was 264.53±55.624 seconds with a range of 135 to 300 seconds, and collagen/ADP fraction was 119.41±44.216 seconds, both values being higher than normal. As a result of the post-surgical measures taken, no patients presented postoperative bleeding, hematoma or infection.

Conclusions

Dental extraction was safe for patients receiving dual anti-platelet therapy when using sutures and gauze impregnated with tranexamic acid, which the patient pressed in place for 30 minutes.

Key words: Aspirin, clopidogrel, tranexamic acid, dental extraction, platelet function.