Should nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs be stopped before elective surgery?
OBJECTIVE
--To determine if perioperative use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might be associated with increased postoperative morbidity.


METHODS
--Records from 165 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty from 1984 to 1987 were reviewed. Patients taking NSAIDs at hospital admission were compared with those who were not.


RESULTS
--Patients taking NSAIDs had more postoperative bleeding complications (gastrointestinal tract bleeding and/or hypotension) than did patients not taking those agents. Complications were more frequent in patients using NSAIDs with half-lives longer than 6 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
--Patients undergoing elective surgery should stop taking NSAIDs in time to allow elimination of the drug; those patients who need to take these agents perioperatively should use drugs with short half-lives.
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville.
C S
CS
Connelly
R S
RS
Panush
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006207:Half-Life; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal