Perioperative bridging anticoagulation in patients with oral cancer surgery: a multicenter retrospective study

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The number of patients administered oral antithrombotic drugs who require elective surgery has increased. Perioperative heparin bridging needs to be considered for patients at a high risk of thromboembolism. The present study investigated the effects of perioperative heparin bridging therapy on perioperative complications (postoperative bleeding and thrombotic events) in oral cancer surgery. The medical records of 98 patients who underwent oral cancer surgery with perioperative bridging therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative hemorrhage occurred in 16 patients (16.3%) and thrombotic events (deep venous thrombosis) in 5 (5.1%), which were higher than in other surgeries. A multivariate analysis identified the administration of prostaglandins as the only significant independent risk factor for postoperative hemorrhage, and a longer duration of postoperative heparin bridging therapy was associated with the incidence of deep venous thrombosis. The present results suggest a higher incidence of thrombotic and bleeding events in patients who underwent oral cancer surgery with heparin bridging, and the nature of surgery (such as revascularization and prolonged bed rest) may be a contributing factor. Future studies are needed to establish whether heparin bridging is effective in oral cancer surgery.