Oral surgery-associated postoperative bleeding in haemophilia patients - a tertiary centre's two decade experience

Our goal in this research was to evaluate potential and targeted therapy, correlated with haemophilia severity and dental procedural risk, to reduce postoperative bleeding risk. Patients with haemophilia who were treated at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic at Sheba Medical Center between 1996 and 2012 comprised the study cohort. Data collected included disease history and severity, perioperative factor concentrate therapy, local haemostatic agent application, systemic tranexamic acid use and outcome. Bleeding was defined as excessive bleeding during or within 20days following procedure. Dental procedures (n=1968) of 125 patients were studied. Patients' bleeding risk score was evaluated according to the severity of haemophilia with or without the presence of an inhibitor, presence of comorbid coagulopathy and the type of dental procedure. Thirty-four patients undergoing a total of 880 high-risk and 1088 low-risk procedures suffered 40 postoperative bleeding events that necessitated further dental and/or haematological intervention. Among risk factors for delayed bleeding, the use of fibrin glue was significantly (P=0.027) associated with the risk of postprocedural bleed probably as it was applied to high-risk patients and procedures. Earlier treatment period (P=0.055), postprocedure hospitalization (P=0.039) and dental high-risk procedures (P<0.0001) also increased bleeding risk. Patients with haemophilia may be safely treated if meticulous haemostasis is applied, along with fibrin glue and systemic therapy as required. Factor transfusions are not mandatory and should be applied considering the procedure-related risk and the patient's calculated haematological risk for bleeding.