Final answer:
Anticoagulant bridging is used preoperatively in high-risk patients to maintain blood thinning effects during surgery. Patients who may require bridging therapy include those with mechanical heart valves, atrial fibrillation, and a history of venous thromboembolism. The decision to use bridging therapy depends on various factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anticoagulant bridging is used preoperatively in patients who are at high risk for blood clot formation during surgery. This involves temporarily stopping their oral anticoagulant medication and substituting it with a short-acting injectable anticoagulant to maintain blood thinning effects during the perioperative period.
Patients who require anticoagulant bridging include those with mechanical heart valves, atrial fibrillation, and a history of venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the veins). Additionally, patients who have a high risk of stroke or blood clot formation due to certain conditions may also require bridging therapy.
It is important to note that the decision to use anticoagulant bridging depends on the individual patient's risk of blood clot formation, the type of surgery being performed, and the specific anticoagulant medication they are taking.