Effectiveness of Bridging Anticoagulation for Surgery (The BRIDGE Study)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Blood thinners, such as warfarin, prevent blood clots from forming, thereby reducing the risk
of a stroke or heart attack. When people undergo surgery or certain procedures, they must
stop using warfarin to prevent too much bleeding during and after the surgery or procedure.
Some doctors prescribe a different blood thinner, one that works more quickly and wears off
more quickly, to bridge the gap between starting and stopping warfarin. However, this
short-term treatment is expensive, may increase the risk of bleeding, and has not been proven
effective. This study will determine whether a bridging blood thinner called dalteparin is
helpful or harmful for people with atrial fibrillation who stop taking warfarin in
preparation for surgery or a procedure.