Persistent haemorrhage following dental extractions in patients with liver disease: two cautionary tales

Two cases are reported in which patients known to suffer from chronic liver disorders underwent local anaesthetic dental extractions. In both cases the procedure was followed by severe, intractable post-operative haemorrhage, resistant to local haemostatic measures and requiring hospital admission for intravenous fluid replacement and administration of clotting factors. The importance of not only eliciting details of a patient's medical history, but also of acting appropriately upon that information is emphasised and a recommendation is made that patients with active liver disorders, such as cirrhosis, who require oral surgery procedures should be managed in hospital departments, where access to haematological assessment and appropriate surgical and medical care is readily available. Close liaison with liver physicians and haematologists is recommended.