Surgeon and haematologist: a review of comprehensive care for patients with inherited bleeding disorders in Northern Ireland

Background: Management of patients with inherited bleeding disorders has improved since the introduction of Comprehensive Care Centres (CCC) in the United Kingdom (UK). In the event such patients need surgery, the aim of the multidisciplinary team is to facilitate outcomes as good as what would be expected in a non-bleeding disorder patient. A review of such comprehensive care was carried out in patients with inherited bleeding disorders when they needed surgery at Northern Ireland CCC. Aims of the study were to evaluate surgical morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Methods: All patients with inherited bleeding disorders who underwent non-orthopaedic surgery between 2008 and 2012 were identified from the CCC records within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) in Northern Ireland (NI) and their case records reviewed.

Results: 28 patients received elective and emergency surgery during this period. There was minimum morbidity and no mortality in this cohort.

Conclusions: Surgery in patients with inherited bleeding disorders has become safe with the advent of multidisciplinary CCCs. Close communication between surgeon and haematologist is key in the successful management of these complex patients.