Related Experiment Videos
[Anesthesia for anticoagulated patients]
Takako Migita1, Ryouji Kawaguchi, Miwako Nakao
1Department of Anesthesia, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima 734-0003.
Insights
For anticoagulated patients undergoing surgery, continuing anticoagulation or heparin reduces thrombo-embolic risks, though careful management is needed to prevent bleeding complications.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Hematology
Context:
- Increasing number of patients on anticoagulation therapy undergoing surgery.
- Potential for severe thrombo-embolic and bleeding complications in this patient group.
Purpose:
- To retrospectively analyze the outcomes of anticoagulated patients undergoing elective surgery.
- To evaluate the incidence of thrombo-embolic and bleeding complications.
- To assess the impact of anticoagulant management during the surgical period.
Summary:
- A retrospective study of 79 patients on anticoagulation therapy undergoing elective surgery.
- 2.5% experienced thrombo-embolic events (brain emboli), primarily in patients with arrhythmia.
- 5.1% had bleeding complications, including spinal/epidural anesthesia-related bleeding and wound hematoma.
- No mortality was observed; 28.8% required a change in anesthetic method to general anesthesia.
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of continued anticoagulation or heparin for high-risk patients to prevent thrombo-embolism.
- Underscores the need for careful management to mitigate bleeding risks associated with anticoagulation during surgery.
- Informs anesthetic choices and perioperative strategies for anticoagulated surgical patients.
Background:
Anticoagulated patients who undergo surgry have been increasing in number. They may develop thrombo-embolic and/or bleeding complications.
Methods:
We studied 79 patients retrospectively who had undergone elective surgery from April 2002 through December 2003. We studied their basal diseases, types of anticoagulants, stopping or continuing anticoagulants during their surgical period, thrombo-embolic and/or bleeding complications and changing of the anesthetic method.
Results:
Thrombo-embolic complications occurred in 2 patients (2.5%) who developed brain emboli. Both of them had arythmia. Bleeding complications occurred in 4 patients (5.1%), of whom 3 patients developed bleeding during spinal or epidural anesthesia and one of them had hematoma from the surgical wound. There was no mortality, and 28.8% of patients underwent change of anesthetic method where only general anesthesia was used.
Conclusions:
It is recommended that patients at high risk of thrombo-embolism should continue to receive anticoagulant or heparin during surgical period.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Aneurysm IV: Nursing Management
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia
One of the advantages of...
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
General Anesthesia: Overview
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...