Anticoagulants as a risk factor in patients operated on for abdominal hernia

The aim of the study was to determine whether patients treated with anticoagulants in the perioperative period are at higher risk of developing bleeding complications.

Medical records of patients operated for abdominal hernia were analysed. Data concerning demographic characteristic of a group, type of hernia, comorbidities, preoperative anticoagulation therapy and complications were collected. Association of applied anticoagulation therapy with the time of drainage, the amount of drained discharge and the length of hospitalisation was evaluated.

Analysed group consisted of 186 patients. Thirty seven patients were treated with different schemes of anticoagulant therapy before the the surgery. Patients treated with triple anticoagulation therapy (acetylsalicylic acid, low-molecular weight heparin, vitamin K antagonists) had significantly longer time of drainage in comparison to patients treated according to other schemes (p<0.05). The amount of drained discharge and time of hospitalisation did not differ significantly. Neither comorbidities nor the administration of low-molecular weight heparin did not affect the analysed parameters.

Patients operated on abdominal hernia, who were treated with triple anticoagulation therapy in peri-operative period, require significantly longer drainage of the wound what can result in prolonged hospitalisation.