Background: The use of serotonergic antidepressants (SADs) is associated with an increase in bleeding, and their exposure during the perioperative period increases the potential bleeding risk in patients undergoing surgical operations.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the rates of bleeding between patients on perioperative SADs and those not on SADs in patients undergoing orthopedic surgical procedures.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients who were admitted to a single tertiary care county teaching hospital for orthopedic surgery. Outcomes evaluated were requirements of ≥ 2 units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) and length of hospital stay for those requiring ≥ 2 units of PRBCs.
Results: Of 273 patients, a significantly higher percentage of patients who received SADs required ≥ 2 units of PRBCs (19.3% vs 6.9%; P = 0.0049). Patients who required transfusion had a higher median (interquartile range [IQR]) age (79 [64-84.6] vs 65 [59-75]; P < 0.0001). The risk of requiring ≥ 2 units of PRBCs transfusion was greater for individuals having an anemia comorbidity (odds ratio [OR], 4.55; 95% CI, 1.95-10.62, P = 0.0004). Patients who required ≥ 2 units of PRBCs had a longer median hospital stay than those who did not receive ≥ 2 units of PRBCs (8 [5-10.1] vs 4 [3-5]; P < 0.0001).
Conclusion and relevance: Receiving SADs in the perioperative period is associated with a higher transfusion requirement in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Clinicians should be aware of this increased risk for patients who are taking SADs while undergoing surgical procedures.
Keywords: antidepressants; bleeding; orthopedic surgery; perioperative; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors; transfusion.