Anticoagulation in emergency general surgery: Who bleeds more? The EAST multicenter trials ACES study

Lindsay O'Meara, Ashling Zhang, Jeffrey N. Baum, Amanda Cooper, Cassandra Decker, Thomas Schroeppel, Jenny Cai, Daniel C. Cullinane, Richard D. Catalano, Nikolay Bugaev, Madison J. LeClair, Cristina Feather, Katherine McBride, Valerie Sams, Pak Shan Leung, Samantha Olafson, Devon S. Callahan, Joseph Posluszny, Simon Moradian, Jordan EstroffBeth Hochman, Natasha L. Coleman, Anna Goldenberg-Sandau, Jeffry Nahmias, Kathryn Rosenbaum, Jason D. Pasley, Lindsay Boll, Leah Hustad, Jessica Reynolds, Michael Truitt, Roumen Vesselinov, Mira Ghneim

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Abstract

Background: While direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use is increasing in the Emergency General Surgery (EGS) patient population, our understanding of their bleeding risk in the acute setting remains limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of perioperative bleeding complications in patients using DOACs versus warfarin andAP therapy requiring urgent/emergent EGS procedures (EGSPs). Methods: This was a prospective observational trial, conducted between 2019 and 2022, across 21 centers. Inclusion criteriawere 18 years or older, DOAC,warfarin/AP usewithin 24 hours of requiring an urgent/emergent EGSP.Demographics, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected. ANOVA, χ2, and multivariable regression models were used to conduct the analysis. Results: Of the 413 patients enrolled in the study, 261 (63%) reported warfarin/AP use and 152 (37%) reported DOAC use. Appendicitis and cholecystitis were the most frequent indication for operative intervention in the warfarin/AP group (43.4% vs. 25%, p = 0.001). Small bowel obstruction/abdominalwall herniaswere themain indication for operative intervention in theDOAC group (44.7%vs. 23.8%, p = 0.001). Intraoperative, postoperative, and perioperative bleeding complications and in-hospital mortality were similar between the two groups. After adjusting for confounders, a history of chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 4.3; p = 0.015) and indication for operative intervention including occlusivemesenteric ischemia (OR, 4.27; p = 0.016), nonocclusivemesenteric ischemia (OR, 3.13; p = 0.001), and diverticulitis (OR, 3.72; p = 0.019) were associated with increased perioperative bleeding complications. The need for an intraoperative transfusion (OR, 4.87; p < 0.001), and intraoperative vasopressors (OR, 4.35; p = 0.003) were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Perioperative bleeding complications andmortality are impacted by the indication for EGSPs and patient's severity of illness rather than a history of DOAC or warfarin/AP use. Therefore, perioperative management should be guided by patient physiology and indication for surgery rather than the concern for recent antiplatelet or anticoagulant use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)510-515
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Volume95
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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