Abstract
Background: The perioperative management of warfarin therapy increases the complexity of open inguinal herniorraphy. Methods: One thousand consecutive patients undergoing open inguinal herniorraphy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients on warfarin therapy were categorized into 3 groups: continued warfarin (CW), discontinued warfarin (DW), and discontinued warfarin with anticoagulation bridge (DWB). Results: Eighty-eight patients were on chronic warfarin therapy. Warfarin was continued in 19 patients, discontinued in 54, and discontinued with bridge in 15 patients. Operative times were similar between the 3 groups. Length of stay was longest in the discontinued warfarin with bridge group (CW 0.74, DW 0.54, and DWB 3.33 days; P < .0001). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications. The incidence of surgical site hematoma was higher in the continued warfarin and discontinued warfarin with bridge groups (CW 11%, DW 2%, and DWB 13%; P = .14). Conclusions: Continuation of warfarin may be a safe alternative to discontinuation of warfarin therapy in select patients undergoing open inguinal herniorraphy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 860-864 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | American journal of surgery |
Volume | 192 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2006 |
Keywords
- Heparin
- Open inguinal herniorraphy
- Perioperative anticoagulation
- Warfarin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery