INTRODUCTION
With the number of patients on anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy for preexisting health conditions steadily increasing, the decision to continue or discontinue these therapeutic agents is frequently encountered when performing cutaneous surgery.1 Although the practice of discontinuing anticoagulation perioperatively was accepted in the past, more recent data and literature suggest that this practice should be modified, as the relatively low risk of bleeding in cutaneous surgeries does not justify the morbidity and mortality risk associated with thrombosis.1-3
In light of more recommendations coming out to support the continuation of antithrombotic medications during cutaneous surgery, dermatologic surgeons have adjusted their practice over the years to reflect these recommendations.4-6 However, in other fields that perform cutaneous surgery on a regular basis, such as plastic and reconstructive surgery, a wide variability and lack of consensus still exist regarding the perioperative management practices of therapeutic agents.7-11 To address this issue, the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) co-chaired a multidisciplinary workgroup and recently published an evidence-based guideline in Dermatologic Surgery (DSS), Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) to provide recommendations for physicians and other health care professionals who manage patients undergoing reconstruction after skin cancer resection (RASCR).12-14 The data collected in our study were used to support measures 2 and 3 of this recently published clinical practice guideline regarding continuation of anticoagulation, antiplatelet agents, and the associated coordination of care in patients undergoing RASCR.
The goals of our study are to describe the current practices regarding perioperative management of therapeutic agents in cutaneous surgery and to highlight the disparity that exists
In light of more recommendations coming out to support the continuation of antithrombotic medications during cutaneous surgery, dermatologic surgeons have adjusted their practice over the years to reflect these recommendations.4-6 However, in other fields that perform cutaneous surgery on a regular basis, such as plastic and reconstructive surgery, a wide variability and lack of consensus still exist regarding the perioperative management practices of therapeutic agents.7-11 To address this issue, the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) co-chaired a multidisciplinary workgroup and recently published an evidence-based guideline in Dermatologic Surgery (DSS), Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) to provide recommendations for physicians and other health care professionals who manage patients undergoing reconstruction after skin cancer resection (RASCR).12-14 The data collected in our study were used to support measures 2 and 3 of this recently published clinical practice guideline regarding continuation of anticoagulation, antiplatelet agents, and the associated coordination of care in patients undergoing RASCR.
The goals of our study are to describe the current practices regarding perioperative management of therapeutic agents in cutaneous surgery and to highlight the disparity that exists
