Anticoagulant therapy during perioperative treatment in patients treated with oral anticoagulants - bridging therapy

Abstract

Due to the common use of oral anticoagulants in the treatment of vascular diseases and their complications the number of patients treated chronically with anticoagulants who require diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is still growing up. This concerns often the patients scheduled for surgical procedures that, in the cases of anticoagulant therapy continuation, can lead to the high rate of bleeding. In the paper, the current data and opinions concerning the modification of oral anticoagulant therapy in patients undergoing invasive procedures were presented. The role of the proper risk level assessment and individual management related to the current risk of venous thrombo-embolism and bleeding complications were emphasized.