Abstract
In our department, surgical procedures of patients while under systemic care and management were conducted. A survey was conducted on 69 patients who were being treated with antithrombotic agents and their outcomes were investigated. Among them, the antithrombotic regimen was suspended in 38 (55.1%) cases, all under the instructions given by their attending internists. The remaining 31 (44.9%) cases underwent surgical treatment while continuing their antithrombotic medication; of these 26 (83.9%) patients received their instructions from anesthetists and surgeons and the remaining 5 (16.1%) patients from their attending internists. Among those patients whose antithrombotic medication were suspended, postoperative hemostasis was difficult to achieve in 3 cases (4.3%). Hemostasis was however, achieved within 24 hours in all these 3 cases. None of the patients experienced any particular discomfort.
Consulting the attending internist is essential; but following their instructions alone may not suffice. Dentists need to consider the results of the pre-operative tests and the circumstances of the treatment. If antithrombotic agents are to be withdrawn, perioperative care with particular attention directed to the prevention of thrombosis is necessary.
