Perioperative complications in patients on low-molecular-weight heparin bridging therapy.

Background: Patients taking warfarin are often given interim anticoagulation in the perioperative period. Institutional guidelines that use low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) 'bridging' while the international normalized ratio (INR) is sub-therapeutic are often based on the American College of Chest Physicians Anticoagulation Guidelines.

Purpose: This study aims to identify if patients at a tertiary referral hospital were anticoagulated in line with these guidelines, and the incidence and nature of bleeding and thromboembolic complications.