title: Chronically anticoagulated patients who need surgery: can low-molecular-weight heparins really be used to "bridge" patients instead of intravenous unfractionated heparin?
abstract: Patients at high risk of arterial or venous thromboembolic events often receive chronic treatment with long-term oral anticoagulants such as warfarin. However, if these patients require an invasive procedure, they may require a temporary interruption of their warfarin therapy to minimize their bleeding risk during the procedure. As warfarin has a long half-life and an unpredictable pharmacokinetic profile, short-acting parenteral anticoagulants, such as unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), may be of benefit in protecting the patient from thromboemboli while their warfarin dose is withheld. Such "bridging therapy" has traditionally been provided in-hospital with intravenous UFH; however, recent data have suggested that LMWH may be an effective alternative, with potential cost-savings due to the ability to provide bridging therapy in the outpatient setting.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Vascular Center, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. mjaff@partners.org
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jaff
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin