[Anticoagulation in the setting of skin surgery]

Perioperative use of anticoagulation in the context of skin surgery can be difficult. The different forms of anticoagulation act on different points in the coagulation cascade; therefore, different perioperative difficulties exist, which have to be considered preoperatively. The current guidelines "Umgang mit Antikoagulanzien und Thrombozytenaggregationshemmern bei Operationen an der Haut" provides assistance in the decision-making for the practitioner. Individual factors that influence bleeding or coagulation should be considered and evaluated preoperatively. This article gives an overview of the current guidelines and factors that must be considered preoperatively.