Postoperative bleeding risk for oral surgery under continued rivaroxaban anticoagulant therapy.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of postoperative bleeding complications after oral procedures performed under continued mono or dual anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban (and aspirin). METHODS: This retrospective single-center observational study included 52 oral procedures performed under continued oral anticoagulant therapy with rivaroxaban (20 mg/day). Among them, two procedures were performed under continued dual therapy with aspirin (100 mg/day) added to the regimen. Postoperative bleeding events were compared with 285 oral procedures in patients without any anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy. RESULTS: Postoperative bleeding complications after oral surgery occurred significantly more often in patients under continued rivaroxaban therapy (11.5 %) than in the control cases without anticoagulation/antiplatelet medication (0.7 %). All of the bleeding events were manageable: Two of them were treated with local compression, three by applying new fibrin glue with (one case) or without (two cases) secondary sutures, one occurred during a weekend and was therefore treated under inpatient conditions with suture replacement. All postoperative bleeding episodes occurred during the first postoperative week. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, continued anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban significantly increases postoperative bleeding risk for oral surgical procedures, although the bleeding events were manageable. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral surgeons, cardiologists, general physicians, and patients should be aware of the increased bleeding risk after oral surgical procedures. Close observation up to 1 week postoperatively is advisable to prevent excessive bleeding.

Transarterial embolization of a high-flow maxillary arteriovenous malformation fed by multiple arteries.

A high-flow maxillary arteriovenous malformation fed by multiple arteries, including bilateral internal maxillary arteries and ophthalmic artery, is reported. A combination of polyvinyl alcohol particles and N-butyl-cyanoacrylate mixed with lipiodol was progressively deposited within the distal vascular bed by transarterial superselective embolization of the branches of bilateral internal maxillary arteries, resulting in complete anatomic and clinical cure. The authors feel that this approach is more secure and effective compared with transfemoral venous embolization and direct transosseous puncture. It also avoids mutilating surgery.

Bleeding complications after oral surgery in outpatients with compromised haemostasis: incidence and management.

UNLABELLED: PURPOSE AND RESULTS: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of postoperative bleeding after oral surgery under local anaesthesia performed in outpatients with haemostatic disorders within a 5-year period (2003-2007). One hundred twenty one (70 males, 51 females) out of 2,056 outpatients with different haemostatic disorders (acquired or hereditary) were included in this study. The following data were recorded: medical history and general condition; medications; indication for the surgical procedure; specification of local anaesthesia; applied surgical techniques, considering the kind of haemostatic disorder; and peri- or postoperative bleeding complications. Postoperative bleeding was observed in 12 patients (9.9%). In three cases, inpatient treatment became necessary. The management of two patients with a haemostatic disorder (von Willebrand s disease and haemophilia A) is presented in short case reports. CONCLUSION: In a heterogeneous group of 121 outpatients with known haemostatic disorders, a combination of a few haemostatic agents with appropriate operative technique enables an effective wound management. In cases of failed local interventions after postoperative bleeding, further diagnostic investigations are required.

Arteriovenous malformations of the dental arcades. The place of endovascular therapy: results in 12 cases are presented.

Twelve arteriovenous malformations of the dental arcades (AVMDAs) (seven mandibular and five maxillary) were seen in our institution between 1977 and 1997. All these lesions consisted of true arteriovenous shunts (of either nidus or fistulous type) involving the bone, with or without soft tissue extension. Haemorrhage was present in eight patients (67%); either torrential, necessitating emergency embolization, or recurrent and progressive. Teeth instability was detected in all patients and was the origin of the bleeding. All lesions were embolized. Lesions in nine patients were embolized with Polyvinyl Alcohol Particles (PVA): this helped to stabilize the situation but could not avoid recurrences in all patients, necessitating complementary embolizations and or surgery. The use of acrylic glue (N-Butyl-Cyano-Acrylate [NBCA] Histoacryl) as the embolic agent has changed the results obtained tremendously. Eight patients have been treated with NBCA (five as complementary therapy to PVA during later sessions and three at the first attempt); injection either via the transarterial route or direct transcutaneous puncture (four patients) achieved a cure in four of these lesions (34%) with stability at long-term follow-up of all the other AVMs. Embolization with glue represents the therapy of choice in these sometimes life-threatening lesions, achieving a cure if directed towards the osseous venous lakes. Surgery, often leading to facial mutilation and necessitating massive reconstruction should be avoided nowadays, at least as the initial therapy.