The increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases and the use of bare metal or drug eluting stents have led to an increase in the use of dual antiplatelet therapy. These patients are frequently submitted to non-cardiac surgeries, requiring adequate perioperative management of antiplatelet agents. The strategy of systematic discontinuation of anti-platelet agents prior to surgery increases morbidity and mortality due to thrombotic events, especially in patients with a high risk of in-stent thrombosis. Data indicate there is no significant increase of bleeding complications in surgeries with low to moderate risk of bleeding carried out when dual antiplatelet therapy is used. Adequate risk assessment of thrombotic events and surgical bleeding enables the identification of the most appropriate strategy for the patient. Procedures with low or moderate risk of bleeding must be carried out under antiplatelet therapy, whereas it must be discontinued in those with high risk of bleeding. Alternatively, one must consider postponing the surgery until antiplatelet therapy is safely discontinued. In general, in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, the discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy involves cardiovascular risks which are higher than bleeding complications. Thus, the maintenance of antiplatelet agents is recommended, except in cases of surgery carried out in closed compartments or when the risk of bleeding is unacceptable. We propose an algorithm for the perioperative management of antiplatelet therapy, taking into consideration the risks of thrombotic events and bleeding.
stents; platelet aggregation inhibitors; surgery
