title: Complications of minor cutaneous surgery in patients under anticoagulant treatment.
abstract: Anticoagulant use is common in the elderly population. The role of these medications in the postoperative period is not well defined. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the incidence of postoperative complications in patients taking aspirin and warfarin. A prospective study was performed on 102 patients undergoing minor cutaneous plastic surgery. The number of subjects using regular aspirin, warfarin, and that of the patients with no anticoagulant medication were 37, 21, and 44, respectively. Complications were defined as minor, moderate, or major based on predetermined criteria. Of patients taking warfarin, 57% had some complication, significantly more than complications in the control group. The number of major complications in the warfarin group was significantly higher than those of the control and aspirin groups (p = 0.02). Also, the total number of complications in the warfarin group was significantly higher than the control group, but there was no significant difference between aspirin and control groups (p > 0.05). Cutaneous surgery in patients who receive warfarin is associated with a risk of major complication, but this risk does not exist in the patients receiving chronic aspirin treatment.
authors.affiliation: Zonguldak Karaelmas Universitsei, Uygulama ve Araştirma Hastanesi, Plastik ve Rekonstrüktif Cerrahi A.D., Konzlu-Zonguldak, Turkey. eksalk@superonline.com
authors.forename: Eksal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kargi
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Babuccu
authors.forename: Mubin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosnuter
authors.forename: Berfu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Babuccu
authors.forename: Cevdet
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Altinyazar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin