title: Anticoagulants and hematomas in free flap surgery.
abstract: A review of systemic anticoagulant use in 517 free flap procedures was performed to determine the associated risk of hematoma formation. Patients were divided retrospectively (not randomly) into five groups: no anticoagulation (227 flaps, 5.3 percent hematomas), low-dose heparin bolus of 2000 to 3000 units and postoperative infusion at a rate of 100 to 400 units/hr for 5 to 7 days (192 flaps, 6.7 percent hematomas), intraoperative bolus of 5000 units of heparin without postoperative anticoagulation (46 flaps, 6.5 percent hematomas), high-dose heparin infusion at a rate of 500 to 1200 units/hr (30 flaps, 20 percent hematomas), and dextran 40 infusion at a rate of 25 ml/hr (22 flaps, 9.1 percent hematomas). Intraoperative blood loss was similar for all groups. The flap loss rate was lower in the bolus (1.0 percent) and low-dose (1.0 percent) heparin groups than in the no-anticoagulation group (4.4 percent), but this difference was not statistically significant. The pedicle thrombosis rate also was lower in the bolus (2.2 percent) and low-dose (2.1 percent) heparin groups than in the no-anticoagulation group (6.2 percent). A cause-and-effect relationship between the use of anticoagulants and flap loss or prevention of thrombosis could not be established. We can conclude, however, that the use of low-dose heparin does not increase significantly the risk of hematoma or intraoperative bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Robb
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Bengtson
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schusterman
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006085:Graft Survival; D006406:Hematoma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D006493:Heparin