- Garcia DA, Regan S, Henault LE, Upadhyay A, Baker J, Othman M, Hylek EM. 'Risk of thromboembolism with short-term interruption of warfarin therapy.' Arch Intern Med. 2008 Jan 14;168(1):63-9. 1293 episodes of warfarin therapy interruption in 1024 individuals; atrial fibrillation (n=550), venous thromboembolism (n=144), and mechanical heart valve (n=132); perioperative heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin was used in 8.3%; more than 80% of patients had warfarin therapy withheld for 5 days or fewer. 'Seven patients (0.7%; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.3%-1.4%) experienced postprocedure thromboembolism within 30 days.' None of the 7 patients - received periprocedural bridging therapy. Of these 23 patients who had bleeding episodes, 14 received periprocedural heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin.
