2020 Volume 53 Issue 2 Pages 125-130
Purpose: While the discontinuation of antithrombotic medications decreases bleeding during operations and postoperatively, it nevertheless carries a substantial risk for thromboembolic events. According to the guidelines for management of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular disease, a “small operation of body surface with continued treatment with warfarin and antiplatelet therapy when it is easy to respond to postoperative bleeding” is recommended in class IIa'. In our hospital, we have performed inguinal hernia repair by anterior approach method in patients undergoing continued antithrombotic therapy. We examined the safety of this operation. Materials and Methods: A total of 242 patients who underwent anterior approach method for inguinal hernia between April 2014 and March 2017 were included in the analysis. We excluded bilateral, children, laparoscopic surgery, recurrent cases, and incarcerated cases. We divided patients into the group undergoing antithrombotic therapy, and the group without antithrombotic agent administration, and compared patient characteristics and surgical outcomes. Result: Of the 242 patients, 66 patients were receiving antithrombotic therapy (antithrombotic group), and 176 patients were not receiving antithrombotic therapy (control group). The antithrombotic group had a greater mean age and had higher ASA scores, PT-INR scores. Furthermore, a greater number of patients from this group had comorbidity. There were no significant differences in intra and postoperative bleeding between the two groups. Conclusion: Inguinal hernia repair by anterior approach method can be safely performed in patients who continue to receive antithrombotic agents.
