Nerve blocks are an integral part of the daily work anaesthetists around the world. Single nerves or nerve bundles are deliberately blocked to ease or eliminate pain in patients. Bleeding is a potential complication after neuraxial and peripheral nerve blocks. The risk is increased in patients on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs.

In a collaborative effort, the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) and the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia (ESRA) nominated a joint panel of experts to evaluate the available literature on the prevention of bleeding complications of nerve blocks in patients on antithrombotic drugs. The aim was to prepare an evidence based pragmatic guideline about reducing the risk of antithrombotic drug-induced haematoma formation related to the practice of regional anaesthesia and analgesia.

Christoph Schlimp was honored to be part of the panel of experts to contribute to these guidelines with his consultant anaesthetic experience from the AUVA Trauma Centre Linz combined with his laboratory coagulation research background in the LBI Trauma.

The guidelines has now been published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology. The document illuminates the current state of knowledge in a clear form and provides 40 practical recommendations. In order to increase the reach and promote broad application, the guidelines are freely accessible and can be accessed, for example, via the ESRA website: Regional anaesthesia in patients on antithrombotic drugs Joint ESAIC/ESRA guidelines