BACKGROUND: To the authors' knowledge, the effect of clopidogrel on bleeding complications during full-mouth extraction has not been studied. The authors aimed to determine the safety of continued use of clopidogrel during full-mouth extraction. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing full-mouth extraction who were taking aspirin, clopidogrel, a combination of aspirin and clopidogrel, or neither. The main study outcomes in the 4 study groups were estimated blood loss, transfusion requirements, and complications. The authors also examined the correlation between the number of teeth extracted and estimated blood loss in various groups. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients underwent full-mouth extraction with removal of an average of 19 teeth. The authors excluded 3 patients owing to lack of data regarding blood loss. Of the remaining 68 patients, 25 were using aspirin, 12 were using clopidogrel, 9 were using both aspirin and clopidogrel, and 22 had discontinued the use of antiplatelets. There was no significant difference in the number of teeth extracted (P = .283) and estimated blood loss (P = .111) among the 4 groups. The authors found a significant moderate correlation between the number of teeth extracted and estimated blood loss in the group using aspirin (r = 0.537; P = .006) and in the group using clopidogrel, whether alone or in combination with aspirin (r = 0.535; P = .012), but not in the group who discontinued the use of antiplatelets. There was no need for blood transfusion in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide limited evidence to suggest that continuation of clopidogrel during full-mouth extraction and preprosthetic surgery may be safe and does not appear to be associated with a significant risk of bleeding. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clopidogrel therapy during full-mouth extraction is not associated with significant bleeding complications and may be continued in patients who have a high risk of experiencing a cardiac event.
BACKGROUND: To the authors' knowledge, the effect of clopidogrel on bleeding complications during full-mouth extraction has not been studied. The authors aimed to determine the safety of continued use of clopidogrel during full-mouth extraction. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing full-mouth extraction who were taking aspirin, clopidogrel, a combination of aspirin and clopidogrel, or neither. The main study outcomes in the 4 study groups were estimated blood loss, transfusion requirements, and complications. The authors also examined the correlation between the number of teeth extracted and estimated blood loss in various groups. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients underwent full-mouth extraction with removal of an average of 19 teeth. The authors excluded 3 patients owing to lack of data regarding blood loss. Of the remaining 68 patients, 25 were using aspirin, 12 were using clopidogrel, 9 were using both aspirin and clopidogrel, and 22 had discontinued the use of antiplatelets. There was no significant difference in the number of teeth extracted (P = .283) and estimated blood loss (P = .111) among the 4 groups. The authors found a significant moderate correlation between the number of teeth extracted and estimated blood loss in the group using aspirin (r = 0.537; P = .006) and in the group using clopidogrel, whether alone or in combination with aspirin (r = 0.535; P = .012), but not in the group who discontinued the use of antiplatelets. There was no need for blood transfusion in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide limited evidence to suggest that continuation of clopidogrel during full-mouth extraction and preprosthetic surgery may be safe and does not appear to be associated with a significant risk of bleeding. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Clopidogrel therapy during full-mouth extraction is not associated with significant bleeding complications and may be continued in patients who have a high risk of experiencing a cardiac event.