Use of low-molecular-weight heparin during dental extractions in a medicaid population

Perioperative Management in Patients With Undergoing Direct Oral Anticoagulant Therapy in Oral Surgery - A Multicentric Questionnaire Survey

AIM

The purpose of this study was to survey the current opinions of hospitals and medical practices concerning the perioperative management of patients undergoing direct oral anticoagulant therapy (DOAC) and discuss recommendations for the clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A questionnaire with 13 topics and multiple ordinal-polytomous subitems was designed and sent to 120 Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, as well as to 85 oral and maxillofacial/oral surgeons in medical offices in Hamburg, Germany. The data were statistically evaluated by Chi-square, Fisher's exact and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests.

RESULTS

The rate of response was 42%. Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported treating over 50 patients per year with undergoing DOAC therapy and only 18% assess a high bleeding risk [33% for vitamin K antagonists (VKA)]. In contrast to that, 62% of respondents would interrupt the DOAC therapy for extraction of one tooth, while 94% would continue VKA therapy. Significantly more clinicians apply suture than those in a medical office. The use of additional hemostatic measures varied between clinic and medical practice. There was a clear request for more detailed guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The study shows the current opinion for perioperative management of patients undergoing DOAC therapy. Multi-centric studies under controlled conditions are needed for a safer treatment of anticoagulated patients as therapy strategies differ greatly between institutions and therefore a complication analysis is hardly possible.

Assessment of bleeding during minor oral surgical procedures and extraction in patients on anticoagulant therapy

Introduction:

The risk of postoperative hemorrhage from oral surgical procedures has been a concern in the treatment of patients who are receiving long-term anticoagulation therapy. A study undertaken in our institution to address questions about the amount and severity of bleeding associated with minor outpatient oral surgery procedures by assessing bleeding in patients who did not alter their anticoagulant regimen.

Subjects and Methods:

Eighty-three patients receiving long-term anticoagulant therapy visited Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from May 2010 to October 2011 for extractions and minor oral surgical procedures. Each patient was required to undergo preoperative assessment of prothrombin time (PT) and measurement of the international normalized ratio. Fifty-six patients with preoperative PT values within the therapeutic range 3–4 were included in the study. The patients’ age ranged between 30 and 75 years. Application of surgispon was done following the procedure. Extraction of teeth performed with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues, the socket margins sutured, and sutures removed after 5 days.

Results:

There was no significant incidence of prolonged or excessive hemorrhage and wound infection and the healing process was normal.

Safety and cost-effectiveness of bridge therapies for invasive dental procedures in patients with mechanical heart valves

PURPOSE

Bridge anticoagulation therapy is mostly utilized in patients with mechanical heart valves (MHV) receiving warfarin therapy during invasive dental procedures because of the risk of excessive bleeding related to highly vascular supporting dental structures. Bridge therapy using low molecular weight heparin may be an attractive option for invasive dental procedures; however, its safety and cost-effectiveness compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH) is uncertain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study investigated the safety and cost-effectiveness of enoxaparin in comparison to UFH for bridge therapy in 165 consecutive patients (57±11 years, 35% men) with MHV who underwent invasive dental procedures.

RESULTS

This study included 75 patients treated with UFH-based bridge therapy (45%) and 90 patients treated with enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (55%). The bleeding risk of dental procedures and the incidence of clinical adverse outcomes were not significantly different between the UFH group and the enoxaparin group. However, total medical costs were significantly lower in the enoxaparin group than in the UFH group (p<0.001). After multivariate adjustment, old age (≥65 years) was significantly associated with an increased risk of total bleeding independent of bridging methods (odds ratio, 2.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-5.48; p=0.022). Enoxaparin-based bridge therapy (β=-0.694, p<0.001) and major bleeding (β=0.296, p=0.045) were significantly associated with the medical costs within 30 days after dental procedures.

CONCLUSION

Considering the benefit of enoxaparin in cost-effectiveness, enoxaparin may be more efficient than UFH for bridge therapy in patients with MHV who required invasive dental procedures.

Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines

BACKGROUND

This guideline addresses the management of patients who are receiving anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy and require an elective surgery or procedure.

METHODS

The methods herein follow those discussed in the Methodology for the Development of Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis Guidelines. Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines article of this supplement.

RESULTS

In patients requiring vitamin K antagonist (VKA) interruption before surgery, we recommend stopping VKAs 5 days before surgery instead of a shorter time before surgery (Grade 1B). In patients with a mechanical heart valve, atrial fibrillation, or VTE at high risk for thromboembolism, we suggest bridging anticoagulation instead of no bridging during VKA interruption (Grade 2C); in patients at low risk, we suggest no bridging instead of bridging (Grade 2C). In patients who require a dental procedure, we suggest continuing VKAs with an oral prohemostatic agent or stopping VKAs 2 to 3 days before the procedure instead of alternative strategies (Grade 2C). In moderate- to high-risk patients who are receiving acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and require noncardiac surgery, we suggest continuing ASA around the time of surgery instead of stopping ASA 7 to 10 days before surgery (Grade 2C). In patients with a coronary stent who require surgery, we recommend deferring surgery > 6 weeks after bare-metal stent placement and > 6 months after drug-eluting stent placement instead of undertaking surgery within these time periods (Grade 1C); in patients requiring surgery within 6 weeks of bare-metal stent placement or within 6 months of drug-eluting stent placement, we suggest continuing antiplatelet therapy perioperatively instead of stopping therapy 7 to 10 days before surgery (Grade 2C).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative antithrombotic management is based on risk assessment for thromboembolism and bleeding, and recommended approaches aim to simplify patient management and minimize adverse clinical outcomes.