P. Artemi
The number of patients undergoing Dermatologic surgery who are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy has progressively increased over the past 20 years. It is estimated that approximately 25% of patients undergoing cutaneous surgery are taking acetysalicylic acid, 10% Clopidogrel or Ticlopidine and 4% Warfarin. The decision to suspend antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy rarely depends on the prescribing physician, but rather is taken by the Dermatologist on the basis, usually, of personal experience rather than scientifi c evidence. The Dermatologist is seldom aware of the patient’s actual level of thromboembolic risk. There are no randomised double-blind studies that have assessed the risk of peri-operative bleeding. This presentation will review the available literature in this area and also the peri-operative management of anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy. The complications associated with suspending therapy will also be reviewed. Dabigatran, a recently introduced direct thrombin inhibitor that promises to dramatically reduce the number of patients taking Warfarin, will also be a topic of this