[Anesthesia for anticoagulated patients].
BACKGROUND
Anticoagulated patients who undergo surgry have been increasing in number. They may develop thrombo-embolic and/or bleeding complications.


METHODS
We studied 79 patients retrospectively who had undergone elective surgery from April 2002 through December 2003. We studied their basal diseases, types of anticoagulants, stopping or continuing anticoagulants during their surgical period, thrombo-embolic and/or bleeding complications and changing of the anesthetic method.


RESULTS
Thrombo-embolic complications occurred in 2 patients (2.5%) who developed brain emboli. Both of them had arythmia. Bleeding complications occurred in 4 patients (5.1%), of whom 3 patients developed bleeding during spinal or epidural anesthesia and one of them had hematoma from the surgical wound. There was no mortality, and 28.8% of patients underwent change of anesthetic method where only general anesthesia was used.


CONCLUSIONS
It is recommended that patients at high risk of thrombo-embolism should continue to receive anticoagulant or heparin during surgical period.
Department of Anesthesia, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima 734-0003.
Takako
T
Migita
Ryouji
R
Kawaguchi
Miwako
M
Nakao
Nobuyoshi
N
Sato
Naoki
N
Tahara
Hiroshi
H
Adachi
Shima
S
Taguchi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin