A Feasibility Study of Continuing Dose-Reduced Warfarin for Invasive Procedures in Patients With High Thromboembolic Risk

TL;DR: An evidence-based but practical approach to stratify patients according to their risk for thromboembolism when warfarin or antiplatelet drug therapy is interrupted is provided.

TL;DR: While the new-generation anticoagulants cause lower rate of bleeding, it has been observed that controlling these bleedings is more difficult.

TL;DR: Increasing population on anticoagulant medication due to aging and new guidelines for heart disease patients poses a risk of excessive bleeding during dental procedures, necessitating heightened awareness of patients' medication before treatment.

TL;DR: Permanent therapy with oral anticoagulants offers the most consistent protection in patients with mechanical heart valves and dipyridamole over low doses of aspirin, while patients with bioprosthetic valves in the mitral position may be at risk for thromboemboli during the first 3 months after surgery.

TL;DR: Most patients can undergo dental procedures, arthrocentesis, cataract surgery, and diagnostic endoscopy without alteration of their regimen, and for other invasive and surgical procedures, oral anticoagulation needs to be withheld, and the decision whether to pursue an aggressive strategy of perioperative administration of intravenous heparin or subcutaneous low-molecular-weight hepar in should be individualized.

TL;DR: The results indicate that the majority of surgical patients seen in this suburban hospital have two or more risk factors for developing venous thromboembolism, and implementation of prophylaxis remains underutilized despite published reports, including NIH guidelines.

TL;DR: Based on emerging knowledge of risk factors, several risk assessment models (RAMs) have been devised that stratify patients according to overall VTE risk, allowing thromboprophylaxis to be tailored appropriately.