Continuation of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy during phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this review is to evaluate the result of cataract surgery in patients continuing antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant treatment.


RESULTS
The number of elderly patients using anticoagulant and antiplatelet treatment in prevention of venous thromboembolism has significantly increased in recent years. It was believed for many years that those patients might be at higher risk for complications during ocular surgery. Thus, different strategies were proposed to prevent these complications, including discontinuation of anticoagulants, dose reduction, or low-molecular-weight heparin replacement. We performed a PubMed search over a period of 7 years (2007-2013) about possible intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients receiving anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapy at the time of cataract surgery. No significant increase in intraoperative or postoperative complications has been identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Phacoemulsification of uncomplicated cataracts with intraocular lens implantation can be performed safely in high-risk patients, taking both anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs when topical anesthesia is administered and cataract surgery is performed through a clear corneal incision by a skilled surgeon.
aDepartment of Ophthalmology, Poznan City Hospital, Poznań bDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland cDepartment of Ophthalmology, 'Lozano Blesa' University Clinic Hospital dAragon Health Sciences Institute, Zaragoza, Spain eDepartment of Ophthalmology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Andrzej
A
Grzybowski
Francisco J
FJ
Ascaso
Konrad
K
Kupidura-Majewski
Mark
M
Packer
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors