Standardization of perioperative antithrombotic drug management in the hospital

Abstract

“The perioperative management guideline of antithrombotic drugs” was created for the purpose of attaining standardization of discontinuation, perioperative care, and resumption of an antithrombotic drug in the hospi-tal. In order to attain standardization, 1) clarification of the roles of the many occupational descriptions by the guideline, and 2) improvement of the hospital information system for inter-professional information sharing, were implemented.

The guideline is constituted as follows：(1)The guideline for standardizing inter-professional correspondence, such as a department of treatment, prescription, pharmacy, and nursing. (2)The model of consent document regarding discontinuation of an antithrombotic drug by department. (3)The guideline of the emergency operation for patients taking anti-coagulants. (4)A risk description of post-discontinuation of the antithrombotic drug for Prescription Department. The current hospital information system (electronic charts and electronic critical path) was utilized to attain inter-professional information-sharing.

Now, practical use of the guideline is smooth and is considered to be useful in obtaining patient safety. However, for reduction of the risk of the thrombotic events, both treating doctors and prescribing physicians must analyze each patient's conditions carefully, and treatment plan should follow detailed discussions with the patients regarding the necessity of discontinuation of the antithrombotic drugs and the risks that may follow.