Perioperative conversion of oral anticoagulants to heparin (bridging) in ophthalmic medicine

Abstract

Since topical anesthesia was introduced in ophthalmic surgery, anticoagulation therapy can often be used in patients with thromboembolic risk. But some surgical procedures with an increased risk for intraoperative bleeding necessitate changing a patient's Coumadin therapy to heparin. To reduce intraoperative bleeding and perioperative thromboembolic complications, ophthalmologists and referring general practitioners should cooperate closely.