[Perioperative coagulation management in microsurgery: report of the consensus workshops in the course of the 31st and 32nd Annual Meeting of the German-language Working Group for microsurgery of the peripheral nerves and vessels (DAM) November 2009 in Erlangen and November 2010 in Basel]

Microsurgery is a very relevant component of reconstructive surgery. In this context anticoagulation plays an increasing role. At the moment there are no unanimously accepted prospective studies or generally accepted regimes available that could serve as evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of thrombosis in microsurgery. With regard to this problem the aim of a series of workshops during the annual meetings of the German-speaking group for microsurgery in 2009 and 2010 was to establish a first possible consensus. This article reflects the main aspects of the ongoing development of a generally acceptable guideline for anticoagulation in microsurgery as interim report of these consensus workshops. Basically there are 3 main agents in thromboprophylaxis available: antiplatelet drugs, dextran and heparin. In the course of the workshops no general use of aspirin or dextran for anticoagulation in microsurgery was recommended. The use of heparin as anticoagulation agent is advisable for different indications. Low molecular heparins (LMH) have certain advantages in comparison to unfractionated heparins (UFH) and are therefore preferred by most participants. Indications for UFH are still complex microsurgical revisions, renal failure and some specific constellations in patients undergoing reconstruction of the lower extremity, where the continuous administration of heparin is recommended. At the moment of clamp release a single-shot of UFH is still given by many microsurgeons, despite a lack of scientific evidence. Future prospective clinical trials and the establishment of a generally accepted evidence-based guideline regarding anticoagulation treatment in microsurgery are deemed necessary.