Management of Anticoagulated Patients in Dentoalveolar Surgery: A Retrospective Study Comparing Bridging Versus Unpaused Vitamin K Antagonist Medication.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of postoperative bleeding following dentoalveolar surgery in patients with either continued vitamin K antagonist medication or perioperative bridging using heparin. Study design: A retrospective study was performed analyzing patients who underwent tooth extraction between 2012 and 2017. Patients were retrospectively allocated into two comparative groups: un-paused vitamin K antagonist medication versus bridging using heparin. A healthy, non-anticoagulated cohort with equivalent surgery served as a control group. Main outcome measures were: the occurrence and frequency of postoperative bleeding, the number of removed teeth, the surgical technique of tooth removal (extraction/ osteotomy/ combined extraction and osteotomy) and the prothrombin time.Results: In total, 475 patients were included in the study with 170 patients in the group of un-paused vitamin K antagonist medication VG, 135 patients in the Bridging group BG and 170 patients in the control group CG. Postoperative bleeding was significant: CG vs.VG p=0.004; CG vs. BG p<0.001, BG vs.VG p<0.001. A significant correlation of number of the extracted teeth in the BG (p=0.014) and no significance in VG (p=0.298) and CG (p=0.210) and in the BG vs. VG and CG with p<0.001 in terms of surgical intervention extraction. No difference observed in terms of prothrombin time.Conclusion: Bridging increases the risk for bleeding compared to un-paused vitamin K antagonist medication. The perioperative management of anticoagulated patients requires a well- coordinated interdisciplinary teamwork to minimize or at best avoid both: postoperative bleeding and thromboembolic incidences.