title: Association of Uninterrupted Oral Anticoagulation During Cardiac Device Implantation with Pocket Hematoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Implantation of permanent pacemakers (PPMs) or implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) may be complicated by the development of pocket hematomas. Current practice guidelines provide little guidance to clinicians about the preferred strategy for chronic oral anticoagulation (OAC). The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and clinical significance of pocket hematoma among patients receiving uninterrupted OAC during cardiac device implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing cardiac device implantation between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, at an academic teaching hospital. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, comorbidities, and medications. The primary outcome was development of pocket hematomas within 30 days of device implantation. Clinical significance was based on the need for additional intervention. Data were assessed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and chi-square tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final cohort included 380 patients. The median age was 68.4 years, and 56.6% were male. Cardiovascular comorbidities were common. Among 80 patients receiving uninterrupted OAC, 71.3% were taking warfarin, 11.2% rivaroxaban, and 17.5% dabigatran. The incidence of pocket hematomas for the entire cohort was 9.7%, of which 1.3% were clinically significant. Pocket hematoma occurred in 21.4% of patients continued on OAC versus 7.7% of those not anticoagulated (P = .001). Pocket hematoma was more common among those receiving ICDs than PPMs (18.5% vs 5.7%, respectively; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuing chronic OAC increased pocket hematoma formation but most were clinically insignificant. Pocket hematoma occurred irrespective of the oral anticoagulant drug used, but additional study is needed to determine comparative risks among the drugs.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy , Lawrence, Kansas.
authors.forename: Brittany L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Melton
authors.affiliation: Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kansas Medical Center , Kansas City, Kansas.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacist, University of Kansas Hospital , Kansas City, Kansas .
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goerdt
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacist, University of Kansas Hospital , Kansas City, Kansas .
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casey
keywords: anticoagulation; cardiac device; implantation; pocket hematoma