title: Assessment of bleeding during minor oral surgical procedures and extraction in patients on anticoagulant therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of postoperative hemorrhage from oral surgical procedures has been a concern in the treatment of patients who are receiving long-term anticoagulation therapy. A study undertaken in our institution to address questions about the amount and severity of bleeding associated with minor outpatient oral surgery procedures by assessing bleeding in patients who did not alter their anticoagulant regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-three patients receiving long-term anticoagulant therapy visited Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from May 2010 to October 2011 for extractions and minor oral surgical procedures. Each patient was required to undergo preoperative assessment of prothrombin time (PT) and measurement of the international normalized ratio. Fifty-six patients with preoperative PT values within the therapeutic range 3-4 were included in the study. The patients' age ranged between 30 and 75 years. Application of surgispon was done following the procedure. Extraction of teeth performed with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissues, the socket margins sutured, and sutures removed after 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant incidence of prolonged or excessive hemorrhage and wound infection and the healing process was normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bharath University, Tagore Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jimson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amaldhas
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Bharath University, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jimson
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology Tagore Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tagore Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parthiban
keywords: Anticoagulant; antiplatelet; extraction of teeth; oral surgery