INTRAOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE BLEEDING PROBLEMS IN PATIENTS TAKINGWARFARIN, ASPIRIN, AND NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENTS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

BACKGROUND. Many patients who undergo cutaneous surgery take medicatio ns that can affect bleeding. The role of these medications in postoper ative bleeding complications is unclear. Dermatologists have no clear guidelines regarding the Meed to discontinue these medications preoper atively. OBJECTIVE. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the in cidence of postoperative bleeding complications in patients taking asp irin, warfarin, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. METHODS. Data were collected from patients undergoing Mohs surgery regarding preope rative medication history, operative bleeding, and postoperative bleed ing. Frequency of postoperative bleeding complications was then evalua ted. RESULTS. There was no statistically significant difference in pos toperative bleeding complications between patients on aspirin, warfari n, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, when compared with control s. CONCLUSION. It may not be necessary to discontinue aspirin, warfari n, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents in patients undergoing many common dermatologic surgical procedures, such as Mohs surgery. (C) 19 97 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.