Evaluation of the side effect and complications of daily low dose aspirin therapy on minor oral surgery : clinical and follow up prospective study

Abstract EN

Background (Aims of the study) : The risk of excessive bleeding prompts physicians to stop low-dose long-term aspirin regimens before surgery, which puts the patient at risk from adverse thrombotic events.

We hypothesize that most minor oral surgical procedures can be carried out safely without stopping low-dose aspirin.

Materials and Methods : the study included 60 patients (35 males, 25 females), ranging in age from 45 to 75 years.

All minor oral surgery patients at (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department in College of Dentistry and AL-YARMOUK hospital) from September 2010 to April 2011, who were also on long-term low-dose aspirin therapy regimens (acetylsalicylic acid 75 mg to 100 mg / day), were included.

Investigation of bleeding time and platelet count was performed.

If within normal limits, aspirin was not stopped before surgery.

Patients were operated under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.

All wounds were sutured and followed up at 24, 48, and 72 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks after the procedure.

Results: The study included 60 patients (35 males, 25 females), ranging in age from 45 to 75 years.

Preoperative values were within normal limits for all patients.

Aspirin was not stopped for a single patient.

There was no excessive intraoperative bleeding in all cases except 2 cases ; there was no postoperative bleeding in all cases.

Conclusion: We conclude that most minor oral surgery procedures can be carried out safely without stopping long-term low-dose aspirin regimen.