title: The Periprocedural Management of Anticoagulation and Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors in Endoscopic Interventions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Germany, more than half a million persons, most of them elderly, are under long-term treatment with anticoagulants. The approval of new oral anticoagulants and platelet aggregation inhibitors, as well as new data on periprocedural bridging with heparins, have introduced marked complexity to the management of treatment with anticoagulants and platelet aggregation inhibitors for endoscopic interventions in visceral surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective literature search in PubMed, as well as on the relevant guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Robust data are available on the management of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and platelet aggregation inhibitors for endoscopic procedures; on the other hand, the data on the periprocedural management of non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOAC) are still inadequate. Endoscopic procedures that carry a low risk of bleeding can be performed under treatment with anticoagulants or platelet aggregation inhibitors. Before any procedure with a high risk of bleeding (≥ 1.5%) oral anticoagulants of any type and P2Y12 inhibitors should generally be discontinued. Patients in whom VKA are temporarily discontinued for this reason need bridging treatment with heparin only if they are at high risk of thromboembolic events (≥ 10% per year). For patients who are anticoagulated with NOAC, timely discontinuation of the drug depending on renal function is of key importance, and bridging is usually unnecessary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adequate scientific evidence supports the current recommendations and treatment algorithms for the periprocedural management of oral anticoagulants and platelet aggregation inhibitors in endoscopic procedures. Larger-scale studies are still needed to provide a sound basis for the corresponding recommendations about NOAC.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine 1, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Cardiology, Department of Medicine 3, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine 2, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main.
authors.forename: Christian M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fichtlscherer
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Miesbach
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albert
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors