Background: Hip fractures are a common problem and corrective surgery is recommended within 24 h. However, most peri-operative direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) guidelines suggest a washout period of 48 h before major surgery. There are limited data on utility of drug levels.
Aim: To investigate the effect of DOAC therapy on time to surgery and patient outcomes, and to explore the impact of different pre-operative protocols on surgical delay.
Methods: A multi-centre, retrospective analysis of all adult patients that presented with acute hip fracture at three tertiary hospitals in Perth, Western Australia, was performed. Data were collated from the West Australian hip fracture registry and electronic records. Time to theatre, DOAC levels, bleeding and transfusion rates were compared between sites.
Results: Of 1240 hip fracture patients, 146 (11.9%) were on anticoagulation, with more patients taking a DOAC than warfarin. The time to surgery was significantly longer for those on a DOAC compared with those on warfarin (P = 0.003). There was no difference in bleeding, transfusion requirement or 30-day mortality in patients taking a DOAC compared to those on warfarin. Fifty-eight (70.7%) patients had a DOAC level prior to surgery. Of 25 patients who had a level performed within 12 h of presentation, 13 (52%) had a result of ≤50 ng/mL. Outcomes were similar between sites.
Conclusion: People on DOAC treatment had a significant delay before corrective surgery compared with those on warfarin. The frequent finding of early DOAC levels <50 ng/mL suggests this delay may be unnecessary in a significant proportion of patients.
Keywords: anticoagulation; elderly; fracture; hip; outcome.
© 2020 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.