Lunch and Learn: Managing anticoagulants in patients requiring surgery

This lunch and learn session will follow the path of a patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) on oral anticoagulant therapy and needing to have surgery. Nurses frequently manage patients with atrial fibrillation who are prescribed anticoagulants to reduce stroke risk. However, when these patients require surgery, their anticoagulation status complicates both preoperative and postoperative care.

This webinar will explore best-practice nursing considerations in managing these patients, balancing the risks of thromboembolism and bleeding while ensuring optimal surgical and rehabilitation outcomes.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Assess and manage the risks of anticoagulation in patients with AF including preoperative optimisation and perioperative bridging strategies.

• Understand the timing and implications of withholding or reversing anticoagulation before surgery.

• Identify postoperative complications such as bleeding, thromboembolic risks, and delirium, and implement nursing strategies for prevention and early detection.

• Assess and manage falls risks pre and post-operatively and the implications for patients receiving anticoagulant treatment.

• Provide safe pain management, venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, and rehabilitation planning tailored to anticoagulated patients.

• Recognise the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in ensuring safe and effective recovery.

Who should attend?

This session is designed for Australian nurses working in acute care, perioperative, and critical care settings, as well as those involved in rehabilitation and aged care.

Join us for this practical and evidence-based session, equipping you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of anticoagulated patients requiring surgery and how to optimise their outcomes.

This Continuing Medical Education (CME) educational session is brought to you by Medcast and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance. 

Testimonials from previous participants

"It was very comprehensive, covering pre-op workup to intrap-op care, to post op care and clinical deterioration"        

"Case presentation was adapted to real patient and therefore creating an engaging session assisting with better understanding and ability to relate to workplace practice"        

"Very comprehensive. The lecturer was well spoken and easy to understand Great information handover and well put together"

"Engaging and relevant. The case study allowed for a good exploration of the risk/benifits of patient with DOACs and requiring surgery"       

"As a GP, integration with hospital care team is important. This helped me understand protocols and processes, as well as important considerations"

For more free Quality Use of Medicines education, check out QHUB on Medcast