Perioperative/Periprocedural Antithrombotic Management in Oral Health Procedures. A Prospective Observational Study

Background/Objectives: This paper evaluates the incidence of thrombotic and/or hemorrhagic adverse events within 30 days after oral health procedures (OHPs) in patients taking antithrombotic agents. Secondary objectives were to determine proper antithrombotic management and its association with adverse events. Methods: As part of a multicenter multispecialty prospective observational study (ReQXAA), individuals with antithrombotic therapy and receiving at least one OHP were selected. Before OHP, participants were referred to their medical doctors to indicate the antithrombotic therapy management. Adverse events were evaluated thirty days after OHP by phone call. Proportions and odds ratios (ORs) were generated applying Fisher’s exact test, chi-square tests and multiple regression models. Results: A total of 138 patients underwent 144 OHPs. Fifteen adverse events (10.5%) were registered, among which the most frequent was slight bleeding (n = 13), which was followed by bleeding that required suspension of the antithrombotic agent (n = 1) and a myocardial infarction (n = 1). Antithrombotic management was appropriate in 122 (84.7%) cases. In 15.3% of the cases it was inappropriate, the main reason being the unnecessary interruption of the antithrombotic medication (n = 11; 50%). Inadequate management was associated with a higher incidence of adverse events (OR = 4.7; 95% confidence interval [1.3, 16.3]; p = 0.016) after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions: The incidence of adverse events 30 days after OHPs was low (10.5%). An inappropriate perioperative/periprocedural antithrombotic management occurred in 15.3% of the cases and was associated with a higher incidence of adverse events (OR = 4.7).