Patients on warfarin with a low-risk for thrombotic events do not require bridging anticoagulation. If interruption is necessary, warfarin can be stopped 5 days prior to a planned procedure and resumed when it is felt to be safe to do so afterwards. Bridging with LMWH or UFH has been shown to cause excess bleeding when compared with no bridging and may ultimately delay resumption of warfarin. High-risk patients (e.g. mechanical mitral valve, venous thromboembolism within the last 3 months or atrial fibrillation with recent stroke/TIA) should be considered for bridging if the risk of thrombosis is higher than the risk of peri-procedural bleeding.

Conditions: Arial Fibrillation (AF), Venous Thrombosis (DVT), Mechanical Mitral Prosthesis, Stroke, TIA

Treatments: Bridging Heparin Therapy, Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH), Unfractionated Heparin (UFH), Anticoagulant, Coumadin, Warfarin