Vascular
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Hemorrhagic complications during long-term postoperative warfarin administration in patients undergoing lower extremity arterial bypass surgery.
Lower extremity bypass procedures restore function and prevent amputation in many patients with severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The regular postoperative use of aspirin offers the dual benefit of extending bypass patency and patient survival. Previous trials of adjunctive oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin have infrequently combined warfarin with aspirin. ⋯ Compliance with warfarin was maintained in 65% of the patients after the first year of observation. In patients with elective lower extremity bypass procedures, the postoperative adjunctive use of warfarin with aspirin increased the risk of major hemorrhagic events. Most of these events occurred when the INR was in the target range.