Maintenance of warfarin anticoagulation for patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. 2006

Pouya N Dayani, and M Gilbert Grand
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63144, USA.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk of hemorrhagic complications associated with vitreoretinal surgery in patients whose warfarin sodium therapy was continued throughout the surgical period. METHODS A review of 1737 records of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy was conducted. Inclusion criteria included patients receiving warfarin therapy whose international normalized ratios (INRs) were elevated above normal values on the day of surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative hemorrhagic complications were documented. RESULTS Fifty-four patients underwent 57 vitreoretinal surgical procedures with warfarin therapy and were divided into groups as follows: group S with INRs of 1.20 to 1.49, values considered subtherapeutic; group B with INRs of 1.50 to 1.99, values considered borderline therapeutic; group T with INRs of 2.00 to 2.49, values considered therapeutic; and group HT with INRs of 2.50 or greater, values considered highly therapeutic. No patients experienced anesthesia-related or intraoperative hemorrhagic complications. Two (7.7%) of 26 eyes in group S and 2 (16.7%) of 12 eyes in group HT experienced postoperative hemorrhages. All of the patients with vitreous hemorrhages had spontaneous clearing without additional treatment. CONCLUSIONS Many patients may safely undergo vitreoretinal surgery while maintaining therapeutic levels of warfarin anticoagulation. We experienced no intraoperative hemorrhagic complications; the 4 postoperative complications resolved spontaneously without persistent visual sequelae or the need for supplemental surgery.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007431 Intraoperative Complications Complications that affect patients during surgery. They may or may not be associated with the disease for which the surgery is done, or within the same surgical procedure. Peroperative Complications,Surgical Injuries,Complication, Intraoperative,Complication, Peroperative,Injuries, Surgical,Complications, Intraoperative,Complications, Peroperative,Injury, Surgical,Intraoperative Complication,Peroperative Complication,Surgical Injury
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010314 Partial Thromboplastin Time The time required for the appearance of FIBRIN strands following the mixing of PLASMA with phospholipid platelet substitute (e.g., crude cephalins, soybean phosphatides). It is a test of the intrinsic pathway (factors VIII, IX, XI, and XII) and the common pathway (fibrinogen, prothrombin, factors V and X) of BLOOD COAGULATION. It is used as a screening test and to monitor HEPARIN therapy. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time,Cephalin-Kaolin Coagulation Time,Kaolin-Cephalin Coagulation Time,Thromboplastin Time, Partial,Coagulation Time, Cephalin-Kaolin,Cephalin Kaolin Coagulation Time,Coagulation Time, Cephalin Kaolin,Coagulation Time, Kaolin-Cephalin,Kaolin Cephalin Coagulation Time
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011517 Prothrombin Time Clotting time of PLASMA recalcified in the presence of excess TISSUE THROMBOPLASTIN. Factors measured are FIBRINOGEN; PROTHROMBIN; FACTOR V; FACTOR VII; and FACTOR X. It is used for monitoring anticoagulant therapy with COUMARINS. Quick Test,Russell's Viper Venom Time,Thrombotest,Russell Viper Venom Time,Russells Viper Venom Time,Prothrombin Times,Test, Quick,Time, Prothrombin,Times, Prothrombin
D012164 Retinal Diseases Diseases involving the RETINA. Disease, Retinal,Diseases, Retinal,Retinal Disease
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

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