The FDA issued a drug safety communication warning of increased risk for spinal hematomas and paralysis when performing spinal procedures on patients taking low molecular weight heparins. According to the alert, "health care professionals [should] carefully consider the timing of spinal catheter placement and removal in patients taking anticoagulant drugs, such as enoxaparin, and delay dosing of anticoagulant medications for some time interval after catheter removal to decrease the risk of spinal column bleeding and subsequent paralysis after spinal injections, including epidural procedures and lumbar punctures." Labels on low molecular weight heparins will reflect the updated timing recommendations. Read the full FDA alert.

Keywords: Anticoagulants, Enoxaparin, Hematoma, Hemorrhage, Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight, Injections, Spinal, Risk, Spinal Puncture

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