Perioperative use of warfarin and aspirin in cataract surgery by Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery members: survey.
OBJECTIVE
To survey the members of the Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (CSCRS) and identify their practices regarding the perioperative use of warfarin and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in cataract surgery.


METHODS
Private practice, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.


METHODS
Members of the CSCRS were faxed a questionnaire that examined their perioperative management of patients being treated with warfarin and aspirin.


RESULTS
Of the 110 eligible participants, 82 returned a completed questionnaire, representing a response rate of 74.5%. Warfarin or aspirin was routinely stopped prior to cataract surgery by 25.6% of the respondents. The majority of surgeons who discontinued these medications reported doing so 3 to 7 days prior to surgery and resumed their use 1 to 2 days postoperatively. Topical anesthesia and clear corneal incisions were preferred by the higher volume surgeons. These surgeons were also less likely to discontinue either warfarin or aspirin preoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery members do not stop either warfarin or aspirin for cataract surgery during the perioperative period.
University of Saskatchewan, Canada. longtone@accesscomm.ca
Lindsay
L
Ong-Tone
Elan C
EC
Paluck
Regan D
RD
Hart-Mitchell
D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology; D019990:Perioperative Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin