Assessment of the risk of haemorrhage and its control following minor oral surgical procedures in patients on anti-platelet therapy: a prospective study.

Abstract Controversy exists concerning the suspension or maintenance of anti-platelet drugs before elective surgical procedures. We assessed the association of the risk of prolonged postoperative bleeding with anti-platelet therapy by type of minor surgical procedure and the association between anti-platelet therapy and the level of hemostatic measures required. Five hundred and forty-six patients were included in the study group: those on aspirin ( n  = 310), clopidogrel ( n  = 97), and aspirin + clopidogrel dual therapy ( n  = 139); the control group comprised 575 healthy individuals. Cramer's V test was significant ( P P  = 0.004; P  = 0.035). Prolonged bleeding in patients on anti-platelet therapy was independent of the type of minor surgical procedure. The greatest risk of prolonged bleeding was found in patients on dual therapy; this required higher levels of hemostatic measures.