Blood loss associated with anticoagulation in patients with replanted digits.
The incidence of blood loss and blood transfusion in patients receiving one anticoagulant in addition to aspirin (n = 40) was compared with that in patients receiving two or more anticoagulants in addition to aspirin (n = 15). Multiple-agent therapy produced a greater drop in the hematocrit than single-agent therapy (15% compared with 6%). Only 2% of the patients receiving a single agent had transfusions, as compared with 53% of the patients receiving multiple agents. We conclude that administration of multiple anticoagulants greatly increases the incidence of blood loss and blood transfusion as compared with the administration of a single agent plus aspirin. The importance of salvaging a replanted digit or digits must be weighed against the risks of a blood transfusion.
Furnas
H J
HJ
Division of Plastic Surgery, Beth Israel Hospital, Brookline, MA 02146.
Lineaweaver
W
W
Buncke
H J
HJ
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012092:Replantation
D000925:Anticoagulants