Surgical procedures in patients on aspirin. Literature Review

Aspirin is referred to as the original of the common non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and is used as a comparison measure to new ones. Aspirin, whose active ingredient is acetylsalicylic acid, combines strong antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant action. For the latter, aspirin is administered on an ongoing basis to patients for the prevention of cardiovascular events or recurrence of cerebral throm- bosis and therapeutically to patients with a history of heart attack or ischemic stroke. Taking aspirin as an anticoagulant chronic medication concerns dentists es- pecially when it comes to surgical procedures as it is likely to cause increased bleeding perioperatively. The management of the patient on aspirin varies depending on the reason aspirin is administered and its dosage, the co-administration of other antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs and the severity of the surgical procedure itself. An interruption of antiplatelet medication is decided after assessing the above-mentioned criteria and con- sulting the patient’s physician. Additionally, in cases of increased bleeding risk like complex extractions, pre- prosthetic surgery, periodontal surgery, the procedure needs to be performed as atraumatically as possible and be accompanied by local haemostatic measures.