Meillon C, et al. - An estimation was carried out of the rate of hemorrhagic complications after vitreoretinal surgery and the impact of antithrombotic agents [antiplatelet (AP) or anticoagulant (AC)]. Data revealed that AP and AC agents did not correlate with hemorrhagic complications during vitreoretinal surgery. Hence, the continuation of these treatments ought to be taken into account without risk of severe hemorrhagic complications.

Methods

• Data was extracted with regard to the hemorrhagic complications of vitreoretinal procedures performed in 7 ophthalmologic centers on patients treated or not treated with antiplatelet (AP) or anticoagulant (AC) agents.
• Researchers recorded the patients’ characteristics, surgical techniques, and complications during surgery and for 1 month after.

Results

• A total of 804 procedures were carried out between January 2015 and April 2015.
• AP agents were administered in 18.4% of the procedures (n = 148) and AC agents in 7.8% (n = 63), with 18 of them being treated with NOACS (new oral anticoagulants).
• It was reported that AP or AC agents were continued in 96.5% and 80.7% of cases, respectively.
• The development of one or more hemorrhagic complications were noted in 1 eye among 53 patients (6.6%) during this period.
• Univariate analysis did not exhibit a connection between AC agents with hemorrhagic complications (P=0.329) when compared to AP (P=0.005).
• On the other hand, AP agents were no longer related to hemorrhagic complications as disclosed by the multivariate analysis.
• Moreover, the intraoperative use of endodiathermy served as the sole factor linked with hemorrhagic complications (P=0.001).