Acetylsalicylic Acid and Oral Surgical Procedure

1 Prinicipal Investigator, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kist Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal 2 Associate Professor, Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kist Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal Abstract Introduction: Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) therapy, an antithrombotic agents used in various medical conditions, was frequently discontinued before undertaking any oral surgical procedure. However recent researches advise against it.. Materials and Methodology: A study was carried out to review all the patients’ charts retrospectively. The sample size consisted of 122 patients who were taking low dose ASA 75 to 150 mg. Those patients on high dose of ASA, dual antiplatelet therapy and on oral anticoagulant therapy were excluded from the study. The Bleeding time and International Normalized ratio was obtained for the entire sample size. Results: The mean bleeding time was 3.144 and INR was 0.845. The range lies within the acceptable range. Out of 122 patients, only 4 patients reported with a complaint of post operative bleeding. The bleeding episodes were managed by simple haemostatic measures such as gauze pressure and suturing. Conclusion: The fear of uncontrolled postoperative bleeding need not worry a clinician in patients taking low dose 75 to 150 mg ASA. The oral surgical procedures with minimal anticipated bleeding can safely be carried out.