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. 2022 May 6;1(2):100090.
doi: 10.1016/j.inpm.2022.100090. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Factfinders for patient safety: Anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents and cervical medial branch procedures

Haewon Lee  1   2 , Mathew Saffarian  3 , Vivek Babaria  4 , Zachary L McCormick  5 ; Spine Intervention Society's Patient Safety Committee
Affiliations

Factfinders for patient safety: Anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents and cervical medial branch procedures

Haewon Lee et al. Interv Pain Med. .

Abstract

This series of FactFinders presents a brief summary of the evidence and outlines recommendations regarding the safety of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents for cervical medial branch blocks and cervical medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy. The evidence in support of the following facts is presented: (1) In patients maintained on therapeutic anticoagulant (AC) and/or antiplatelet (AP) therapy, for whom cervical medial branch blocks (CMBBs) are being considered, there is strong evidence to guide decisions on continuing or discontinuing these AC/AP agents in preparation for the procedure. (2) Therapeutic anticoagulation (AC) and antiplatelet (APT) agents should be discontinued prior to cervical medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (CMBRFN) due to serious hemorrhagic risks.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Consultant: Saol Therapeutics, Stryker, FUSMobile; Research support: Avanos Medical, 10.13039/100008497Boston Scientific, Relievant Medsystems, SPR Therapeutics – ZM. Meals/entertainment: Boston Scientific; Tenex Health – MS.

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