Restarting Therapeutic Anticoagulation After Elective Craniotomy for Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation: A Review of the Literature.

Abstract

The decision to restart systemic anticoagulation after surgery requires a nuanced risk-benefit analysis. The potential for surgical site bleeding must be balanced against the risk of thromboembolic events. In the context of postoperative neurosurgical patients, the consequences of either hemorrhage or thromboembolism can be devastating. However, few studies to date have attempted to determine the optimal time to resume anticoagulation after craniotomy. As a result, the decision of when to restart anticoagulation remains largely subjective and highly variable between surgeons and institutions. In this study, we aim to develop an algorithm that incorporates existing metrics and expert opinion toward the goal of developing guidelines for restarting anticoagulation after elective craniotomy.