Minor oral surgery without stopping daily low-dose aspirin therapy: a study of 51 patients.
OBJECTIVE
The risk of excessive bleeding prompts physicians to stop low-dose long-term aspirin regimens before surgery, which puts the patient at risk from adverse thrombotic events. We hypothesize that most minor oral surgical procedures can be carried out safely without stopping low-dose aspirin.


METHODS
All minor oral surgery patients at our hospital (Madan Dental Hospital, Ahmedabad, India) from May 2002 to May 2003, who were also on long-term low-dose aspirin therapy regimens (acetylsalicylic acid 75 mg to 100 mg/day), were included. Investigation of bleeding time and platelet count was performed. If within normal limits, aspirin was not stopped before surgery. Patients were operated under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. All wounds were sutured and followed up at 24, 48, and 72 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks after the procedure.


RESULTS
The study included 51 patients (32 males, 19 females), ranging in age from 45 to 70 years. Preoperative values were within normal limits for all patients. Aspirin was not stopped for a single patient. There was no excessive intraoperative bleeding in all cases except 1; there was no postoperative bleeding in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that most minor oral surgery procedures can be carried out safely without stopping long-term low-dose aspirin regimen.
Madan
Gautam A
GA
Madan Dental Hospital, Ahmedabad, India. gautammadan@yahoo.com
Madan
Sonal G
SG
Madan
Gauri
G
Madan
A D
AD
D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures; D006472:Oral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010976:Platelet Count; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D013537:Sutures
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin