Is the use of direct oral anticoagulants after non-cardiac thoracic surgery safe for patients?

The outcomes of direct oral anticoagulant use after noncardiac thoracic surgery have not been elucidated. We compared the safety and efficacy of the postoperative use of direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin.

This retrospective cohort study included patients taking anticoagulants after noncardiac thoracic surgery between 2008 and 2021. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on drug type: Group D (direct oral anticoagulants) and Group W (warfarin). The occurrence of bleeding and thromboembolic events was also assessed.

Anticoagulants were administered to 434 postoperative patients. One (0.4%) of the 247 patients in Group D and 3 (1.6%) of the 187 patients in Group W experienced thromboembolic events. Four patients (1.6%) in Group D and 4 (2.1%) patients in Group W experienced bleeding events. All bleeding events in Group D occurred within 1 week of oral administration, whereas only 1 case of bleeding occurred after resumption in Group W.

The outcomes of patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants did not differ from those of patients treated with warfarin. However, major bleeding can occur after the postoperative resumption of direct oral anticoagulant use. Attention should be paid to resuming oral anticoagulants within a few days of non-cardiac thoracic surgery.