Perioperative Outcomes in Patients with and Without Chronic Preoperative Therapeutic Anticoagulation Undergoing Metabolic Surgery at an Academic Medical Center

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Patients on chronic anticoagulation undergoing metabolic surgery represent an increased risk of complications, including both bleeding and thrombotic events, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The optimal perioperative management of patients who are receiving chronic anticoagulation therapy (CAT) is complex. In the colorectal surgery literature, patients on CAT have a 10% rate of peri-procedural bleeding and a 3% rate of thromboembolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the safety and postoperative outcomes between patients with and without CAT undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) at a tertiary referral center in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). <b>Methods:</b> All patients who underwent primary bariatric surgery between September 2015 and July 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The first group included patients with CAT, and the second group included patients without CAT. Demographics, perioperative outcomes, and postoperative results were examined. <b>Results:</b> Our study included 542 patients, 22 (4%) with CAT and 520 (96%) without CAT. Mean age was 46.3 ± 10.5 years in the CAT group and 36.0 ± 11.7 years in the non-CAT group (<i>p</i> < 0.001); median BMI was 41.8 (range 33.1-61.3) and 42.7 (range 30.1-78.4) kg/m², respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.52). The CAT group had significantly higher rates of hypertension (77.2% vs. 32.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), obstructive sleep apnea (81.8% vs. 31.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and coronary artery disease (31.8% vs. 2.8%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In the CAT group, 8/22 (36.4%) patients underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and 14/22 (63.6%) sleeve gastrectomy, compared to 228/520 (43.8%) and 292/520 (56.2%), respectively, in the non-CAT group (<i>p</i> = 0.51). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative emergency department (ED) visits (18.1% vs. 24.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.51), early major complications (4.5% vs. 3.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.54), readmission rates within 30 days (4.5% vs. 3.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.56), or late complications (4.5% vs. 4.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.60). Mean length of stay was significantly longer in the CAT group (4.6 vs. 2.6 days, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The mean follow-up was 10 ± 7.3 months for the CAT cohort and 11 ± 9.7 months for the non-CAT cohort (<i>p</i> = 0.22). Weight loss outcomes at 12 months were comparable, with a percent total body weight loss (TBWL) of 27.0 ± 7.3% in the CAT group and 28.9 ± 8.3% in the non-CAT group (<i>p</i> = 0.29). There were no deaths in either group. <b>Conclusions:</b> In this series, at a tertiary referral center in the UAE, metabolic surgery is safe for CAT patients. Multidisciplinary preoperative preparation might be warranted to avert potential complications.