Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet Stoppage For Procedures
generic (Brand)
Dept.
Procedure Type (hover over entry for examples)
Stop Medication Prior To Procedure Restart after:
aspirin-dipyridamole (Aggrenox)
Anesthesia
High-risk
Primary prophylaxis: 6 days; Secondary prophylaxis: Shared assessment and risk stratification Restart after 24 hours
Intermediate-risk
Requires shared assessment and risk stratification Restart after 24 hours
Low-risk
No hold Restart after 24 hours
Patients with high risk of bleeding (eg, old age, history of bleeding tendency, concurrent uses of other anticoagulants/antiplatelets, liver cirrhosis or advanced liver disease, and advanced renal disease) undergoing low- or intermediate-risk procedures should be treated as intermediate or high risk, respectively.
Radiology
Invasive Procedures
7 days
Paracentesis/Thoracentesis
48 hours
Surgery
High-risk
7 days Restart after 24 hours
Low-risk
No Hold Restart after 24 hours
2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults.
Medication:
aspirin-dipyridamole (Aggrenox)
aspirin > 325 mg/day
Criteria 1: Potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. (Table 2)
Comments
for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
Drug(s)
aspirin
Rationale
Risk of major bleeding from aspirin increases markedly in older age. Studies suggest a lack of net benefit and potential for net harm when initiated for primary prevention in older adults. There is less evidence about stopping aspirin among long-term users, although similar principles for initiation may apply. Note: aspirin is generally indicated for secondary prevention in older adults with established cardiovascular disease.
Recommendation
Avoid initiating aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Consider deprescribing aspirin in older adults already taking it for primary prevention.
Quality of evidence: High, Strength of Recommendation: Strong
Drug(s)
non-COX-2-selective NSAIDs, oral
Rationale
Increased risk of GI bleeding or peptic ulcer disease in high-risk groups, including those >75 years old or taking oral or parenteral corticosteroids, anticoagulants, or antiplatelet agents; use of proton-pump inhibitor or miSOPROStol reduces but does not eliminate risk. Upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding or perforation caused by NSAIDs occur in ~1% of patients treated for 3-6 months and in ~2%-4% of patients treated for 1 year; these trends continue with longer duration of use. Also can increase blood pressure and induce kidney injury. Risks are dose-related.
Recommendation
Avoid chronic use unless other alternatives are not effective and the patient can take a gastroprotective agent (proton-pump inhibitor or miSOPROStol). Avoid short-term scheduled use in combination with oral or parenteral corticosteroids, anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents unless other alternatives are not effective and the patient can take a gastroprotective agent (proton-pump inhibitor or miSOPROStol).
Quality of evidence: Moderate, Strength of Recommendation: Strong
Criteria 2: Potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults due to drug–disease or drug–syndrome interactions that may exacerbate the disease or syndrome. (Table 3)
Drug(s) ⇆ disease or syndrome
NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors ⇄ Heart failure
Rationale
Potential to promote fluid retention and/or exacerbate heart failure.
Recommendation
Use with caution in patients with heart failure who are asymptomatic; avoid in patients with symptomatic heart failure.
Quality of evidence: Moderate, Strength of Recommendation: Strong
Drug(s) ⇆ disease or syndrome
aspirin ⇄ History of gastric or duodenal ulcers
Rationale
May exacerbate existing ulcers or cause new/additional ulcers
Recommendation
Avoid unless other alternatives are not effective and the patient can take a gastroprotective agent (i.e., proton-pump inhibitor or miSOPROStol).
Quality of evidence: Moderate, Strength of Recommendation: Strong
Criteria 5: medications that should be avoided or have their dosage reduced with varying levels of kidney function in older adults. (Table 6)
CrCl (mL/min) at which action is required
<30
Rationale
NSAIDs (oral and parenteral) may increase the risk of acute kidney injury and a further decline in kidney function.
Recommendation
Avoid
Quality of evidence: Moderate, Strength of Recommendation: Strong
(hover over entry for examples)
(Aggrenox)
Note: aspirin is generally indicated for secondary prevention in older adults with established cardiovascular disease.
Consider deprescribing aspirin in older adults already taking it for primary prevention.
Avoid short-term scheduled use in combination with oral or parenteral corticosteroids, anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents unless other alternatives are not effective and the patient can take a gastroprotective agent (proton-pump inhibitor or miSOPROStol).