Managing patients on warfarin therapy: a case report

Coagulotherapy is a common therapeutic regimen most frequently utilizing warfarin. This therapy may have important dental ramifications. An understanding of the mechanisms of action and drug interactions may help avoid problems. Questions commonly arise as to what dental procedures may be safely considered when a patient is on anticoagulant therapy. The coagutherapy level is measured in values of the International Normalized Ratio (INR). Any question about the appropriateness of dental procedures should be referred to the physician prescriber of the anticoagulant therapy. Generally, controlling bleeding is less of a problem than the management of thrombi and vascular occlusion from decreased coagutherapy. A case is presented in which the INR reached a critical value as the result of drug interactions and miscommunication.