[Retrospective study on bleeding and thromboembolic complications related to tooth extraction, in 93 patients usually...

Tooth extraction for patients treated by AVK and/or platelet aggregation inhibitor is performed according to local habits rather than to a consensus. We had for objective to assess hemorrhagic and thromboembolic risks for patients for whom treatment with AVK and/or platelet aggregation inhibitor was modified before tooth extraction.

Ninety-three patient files were examined retrospectively. The following data was collected: epidemiological data, ASA score, nature and changes of antithrombotic therapy, preoperative INR, number teeth extracted, postoperative complications (bleeding and thromboembolic events).

Thirty-seven patients were treated with oral anticoagulants, 41 by a platelet aggregation inhibitor, 10 by double platelet aggregation inhibitor therapy, and 5 by an AVK-platelet aggregation inhibitor combination. At D0, the mean INR was decreased to 1.4, 4 patients with high thromboembolic risk had received heparin relay treatment; the treatment was stopped for 9 of the 56 patients on monotherapy with antiplatelet therapy, 4 were switched from clopidogrel to lysine acetylate; clopidogrel was stopped for 7 patients under combination therapy. Seven hundred and twenty-six avulsions (mean 8.1 per patient) were performed, 41 patients presented with mild/moderate bleeding, easily resolved. A patient presented with delayed hemorrhage at D6 (AVK overdose). No thromboembolic complication was reported.

The modification of antithrombotic treatment, as for surgery at high risk of bleeding, seems to limit the risk of bleeding without increasing thromboembolic risk.