Does perioperative withdrawal of low-dose aspirin compared to its continuation affect cardiovascular and bleeding risks in patients on secondary cardiovascular prevention?
Perioperative continuation of low-dose aspirin is generally recommended unless severe bleeding risks outweigh the cardiovascular risks of withdrawal.
Only if low-dose aspirin may cause bleeding risks with increased mortality or sequels comparable with the observed cardiovascular risks after aspirin withdrawal, it should be discontinued prior to an intended operation or procedure. Controlled clinical studies are urgently needed.
Burger et al. (Sun,) studied this question.