Appropriate management of patients with mechanical prosthetic valves on warfarin during dental procedures is crucial. If the patients continue warfarin, they might develop bleeding, while interruption of therapy can cause thromboembolic events. Bridging therapy (mostly heparin) is used in some patients, while others stop medications. There is no unifying protocol. Information on management of patients on warfarin undergoing dental procedures in Saudi Arabia is lacking. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide more insight into various approaches utilized by clinicians to deal with such patients at a large teaching hospital in Riyadh, and to evaluate the frequency and severity of bleeding and thromboembolic complications during different types of dental procedures in this population. This was a cohort study. Patient records were used to collect data on peri-procedural management of patients on warfarin, continuation or interruption of warfarin therapy, as well as bleeding and thromboembolic complications. Fifty medical records were reviewed from March to October 2012. Regarding management, 10% had no proper documentation, 74% underwent bridging therapy, 12% discontinued warfarin therapy, and 4% continued warfarin. Of the patients, 31% had minor bleeding (15% in patients on bridging therapy and 16% in patients continuing warfarin). Thromboembolic complications were documented in 4%, (2% in those on bridging therapy and 2% in those discontinuing warfarin). Patients on bridging therapy (heparin) were admitted to the hospital for a mean of five days, and none of the other patients were admitted. Adopting the protocol to continue warfarin caused bleeding tendency that was controlled with the usual measures, with more cost effectiveness, and no thromboembolic risks.
Keywords: Dental procedures; bridging therapy; complications; heparin; warfarin.