Open AccessAnticlotting drugs and regional anaesthetic and analgesic techniques
Author(s) -
Juan V. Llau,
Jose De Andrés,
C Gomar,
A. Gómez-Luque,
F. Hidalgo,
L.M. Torres
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of anaesthesiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2346
pISSN - 0265-0215
DOI - 10.1017/s0265021506001918
Subject(s) - medicine , clopidogrel , regional anaesthesia , fondaparinux , intensive care medicine , argatroban , thienopyridine , aspirin , anesthesia , ticlopidine , surgery , thrombosis , platelet , venous thromboembolism , thrombin
The wide use of anticlotting drugs by patients scheduled for surgery is a challenge for the anaesthesiologist when considering a regional anaesthesia technique. This practice seems safe if there is an appropriate management based on safety intervals established according to the pharmacology of the drug and the regional technique. Some anaesthesiology societies have published recommendations for the safe practice of regional anaesthesia with the simultaneous use of anticoagulants (heparin, low molecular weight heparins, oral anticoagulants (OA), fondaparinux and others) and antiplatelet agents (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, argatroban and others). One of the most recent guidelines has been published by the Spanish Society of Anaesthesia and Critical Care. This article reviews these recommendations and compares them with others published in the last years. The recommendations are similar, but some interesting differences can be observed and need to be considered. A European consensus in this setting would probably be necessary.