To the Editor: A middle-aged woman with atrial fibrillation had her warfarin therapy stopped for 2 days before dental extraction. She had a catastrophic stroke and is now a plaintiff. I was asked if her medical management accorded with common practice.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- University of Western Australia, 328 Stirling Highway, Claremont, Perth, WA 6010.
Correspondence: mkamien@cyllne.uwa.edu.au
- 1. Australian Medicines Handbook. Adelaide: Hyde Park Press, 2004: 310.
- 2. Hankey GJ. Non-valvular atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention. National Blood Pressure Advisory Committee of the National Heart Foundation. Med J Aust 2001; 174: 234-239. <eMJA full text>
- 3. Bailey BM, Fordyce AM. Complications of dental extraction in patients receiving warfarin anti-coagulant therapy. A controlled trial. Br Dent J 1983; 155: 308-310.
- 4. Wahl MJ. Myths of dental surgery in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy [review]. J Am Dent Assoc 2000; 131: 77-81.
- 5. Carter G, Goss AN, Lloyd J, Tocchetti R. Current concepts in the management of dental extractions for patients taking warfarin. Aust Dent J 2003; 48: 89-96.
- 6. Baker RI, Coughlin PB, Gallus AS, et al. Warfarin reversal: consensus guidelines on behalf of the Australasian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Med J Aust 2004; 181: 492-497. <eMJA full text>
Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.