[The antithrombotic-treated patient]

Abstract

Management of perioperative treatment with anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs is a complex medical problem. Careful preoperative evaluation of the risk of bleeding and thromboembolism with and without of antithrombotic therapy is the key prerequisite to secure safe outcome of elective, invasive procedures performed on patients treated with antithrombotic agents. In emergency cases, knowledge of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antithrombotic drugs and of the effect of antidotes and blood-derived, recombinant, and other haemostatic products is important.