Postextraction bleeding in a patient taking antithrombotics: report of a case

Antithrombotic medications, including antiplatelets and anticoagulants, are used by millions of patients to prevent stroke or heart attack. When these patients present for dental surgery, a decision must be made whether to continue the antithrombotic medication and risk a bleeding problem or to interrupt the medication and risk an embolic complication such as a stroke or heart attack. In patients taking antithrombotic medications, a small risk of postoperative bleeding after dental extractions must be weighed against a small risk of stroke or heart attack when these medications are interrupted. This case report discusses an episode of minor postextraction bleeding in a patient taking combination anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy. Antithrombotic therapy generally should not be interrupted for dental procedures, as the prognosis of potential postextraction bleeding that could result from antithrombotic continuation is almost always better than the prognosis of a potential stroke or heart attack that could follow antithrombotic interruption.