Basic Hemostatic Parameters in Patients with Long-Term Oral Anticoagulation Undergoing Cholecystectomy

The impact of anti-thrombotic therapy on bleeding outcomes and thrombosis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis

Acute cholecyctitis is a common condition which requires immediate or elective surgical interventions and this condition is one among the common causes for emergency hospitalization among the elderly population. However, controversies have been observed with the use of anti-thrombotic agents in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecyctectomy. Few studies have reported increased risk of bleeding in patients with anticoagulants whereas other studies have reported no significant bleeding outcomes. Nevertheless, the lack of evidence-based guidelines further complicates decision-making. In this analysis we aimed to systematically assess the impact of anti-thrombotic therapy on bleeding outcomes and thrombosis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane database, Google scholar, Web of Science and http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for relevant publications based on anti-thrombotic therapy among patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The endpoints in this analysis included: intra-operative bleeding, post-operative bleeding, blood loss, patients requiring blood transfusion and thrombotic complications. The Revman 5.4 software was used to analyze data in this analysis. Risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to represent the data following analysis. A total number of 4008 participants (enrollment period 2002-2019) were included in this analysis whereby 756 participants were assigned to an anti-thrombotic therapy and 3592 participants were in the control group. Our results showed that antithrombotic therapy was associated with significantly higher risk of intra-operative bleeding (RR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.77-2.79; P = 0.00001), post-operative bleeding (RR: 4.77, 95% CI: 1.13-20.10; P = 0.03), and blood loss (RR: 3.01, 95% CI: 1.13-8.06; P = 0.03). Patients requiring blood transfusion (RR: 4.80, 95% CI: 1.90-12.13; P = 0.0009) were also significantly higher in the anti-thrombotic group. However, thrombotic complications (RR: 2.17, 95% CI: 0.50-9.42; P = 0.30) were not significantly higher. Through this analysis, we concluded that anti-thrombotic therapy was associated with significantly increased risks of intra-operative and post-operative bleeding events following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients requiring blood transfusion were also significantly higher. Therefore, stopping anti-thrombotic agents prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy could significantly minimize bleeding risks.

Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications Significantly Increase the Risk of Postoperative Hematoma: Review of over 4500 Thyroid and Parathyroid Procedures

PURPOSE

Antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant medication use is common. Abstinence a week before surgery may still result in altered hemostasis. The study aim was to report on perioperative antiplatelet and anticoagulant use in thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy patients, and to determine the association with postoperative hematoma (POH) rates.

METHODS

Retrospective review of a prospective endocrine surgery database was performed. Procedure extent was defined as unilateral, bilateral, or extensive. Antiplatelets were categorized as none, 325 mg aspirin (ASA), <325 mg ASA, clopidogrel, or other. Anticoagulants were categorized as none, oral, or injectable.

RESULTS

A total of 4514 patients were identified. POH developed in 22 patients (0.5 %). Rates were similar between age, gender, and reoperative status. POH were seven times more common after thyroidectomy (0.8 vs. 0.1 %, p < 0.01). Unilateral procedures had lower POH rates than bilateral or extensive (0.1 vs. 0.9 vs. 0.8 %, p < 0.01). POH rates in patients receiving 325 mg ASA (0.8 %) or clopidogrel (2.2 %) were much higher than patients not receiving antiplatelets (0.5 %) or receiving <325 mg ASA (0.1 %, p = 0.04). Oral anticoagulants (2.2 %) and injectable anticoagulants (10.7 %) had much higher POH rates than patients not receiving anticoagulants (0.4 %, p < 0.01). Target organ, patient gender, procedure extent, antiplatelet use, and anticoagulant use were included on logistic regression to determine association with POH. Bilateral procedures, thyroidectomy, clopidogrel, oral, and injectable anticoagulants were all independently associated with POH.

CONCLUSIONS

POH occur more frequently after thyroidectomy and during bilateral procedures. Patients requiring clopidogrel or any anticoagulant coverage are at much higher risk for POH. These higher-risk patients should be considered for observation to ensure prompt POH recognition and intervention.

Study of Octaplex dosing accuracy: an in vitro analysis

Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) are recommended for urgent warfarin reversal. However, disagreement exists regarding the proper dosing strategy (i.e. fixed vs. weight-based). We measured the in vitro effect of PCC dosing on international normalised ratio (INR) and factor activity. Plasma from warfarin-anticoagulated patients with stable INRs was collected. PCC doses of 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 IU were added to the samples, and INR and factor activity were analysed before and after PCC. Twenty-three of thirty subjects enrolled had complete data for analysis. INRs were below 1.5 in all samples post-1,000 IU, and decreased further with subsequent doses (p<0.001). Factors II, VII, and X increased with consecutive doses (p<0.01). Linear correlation was seen between INR and factors II, VII and X. Factor IX did not increase consistently nor show correlation with INR reversal. Weight-based dosing was then estimated; INRs were all <1.2 (0.9-1.2) and activity >0.50 IU for factors II, VII and X (0.96-1.52, 0.51-1.45 and 0.81-1.38, respectively). Factor IX did not uniformly correct above 0.50 IU (0.31-1.31). We confirm in vitro that 1,000 IU of Octaplex(®) is able to correct INR to <1.5 but factors were not uniformly >0.50 IU until 2,000 IU, and not >1.00 IU until 3,000 IU. This suggests that INR correction alone may not accurately reflect factor activity, and lends support for weight-based dosing.