Lack of complications in minor skin lesion excisions in patients taking aspirin or warfarin products

Abstract

Many patients undergoing surgical procedures take medications that influence the coagulation system. It is common practice to discontinue the use of aspirin and warfarin products 7 to 10 days before any major surgical procedure. However, there is some controversy as to whether these medications should be discontinued for minor dermatological procedures. Our aim was to study the incidence of complications in patients receiving aspirin or warfarin and undergoing minor dermatological procedures. Two thousand three hundred twenty-six patients, operated on by a single surgeon, were studied for complications. Warfarin was used by 28 patients, 228 took aspirin, and the remainder took neither. There was no difference in the complication rate among the three groups as long as the surgeon diligently obtained hemostasis. It appears that patients taking aspirin or warfarin do not need to discontinue these medications before minor dermatological procedures.