FCA 1 Anaesthetic Refresher Course

Perioperative anaesthetic management of anticoagulation

M.E.A. Kemp
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia | Vol 28, No 5 | a1451 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.36303/SAJAA.2022.28.5.2876 | © 2022 M.E.A. Kemp | This work is licensed under Other
Submitted: 30 November 2025 | Published:

About the author(s)

M.E.A. Kemp, Department of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

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Abstract

Patients who present for surgery while taking anticoagulants present challenges related to the underlying condition that requires anticoagulation as well as requiring a careful assessment of the risks of bleeding and thrombosis. Commonly used drugs include low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin. Patients taking warfarin who have a high risk of thrombosis and are undergoing surgery with a high risk of bleeding require bridging therapy with LMWH.

Keywords

indications and drugs used for anticoagulation; perioperative management of anticoagulation; bridging; general and regional anaesthesia

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