Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the use of a resorbable oxycellulose dressing with a fibrin adhesive for the prevention of postextraction hemorrhage in patients taking anticoagulants.
Study design: A control group of 26 patients with a preoperative international normalized ratio (INR) in the range of 2.0 to 4.2 had extractions performed with the use of local anesthesia and the socket(s) dressed with a resorbable oxycellulose dressing and sutured with a resorbable suture. The study group with a comparable INR range of 2.1 to 4.1 was treated in a similar manner, except the sockets were dressed with a fibrin adhesive.
Results: No discernible difference in the postoperative outcome with regard to hemorrhage was noted. Postoperative pain was reported more frequently in the group that used a resorbable oxycellulose dressing. Only 1 patient had significant postoperative bleeding.
Conclusions: This study shows that in patients receiving warfarin whose INR is within the therapeutic range, the fibrin adhesive is as effective as the resorbable oxycellulose dressing in preventing postextraction hemorrhage.