AIM Assess the impact of using academic detailing-assisted guideline roll-out on warfarin initiation, reversal of warfarin overanticoagulation, and uptake of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis across 4 metropolitan teaching hospitals. METHODS Baseline data were collected for 3 months prior to intervention. Prescribers were then informed about the guidelines, including feedback of current ...

Warfarin, an oral vitamin K antagonist, is used to prevent arterial and venous thromboembolism in patients suffering from a multitude of diseases. In 2004, 31 million warfarin prescriptions were dispensed in the United States. Warfarin inhibits the activation of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (Factors II, VII, IX, and X) and regulatory proteins (proteins C, S, and Z). It is one of the...

Warfarin-related intracranial hemorrhage carries a high mortality and poor neurological outcome. Rapid reversal of coagulopathy is a cornerstone of medical therapy to halt bleeding progression; however the optimal approach remains undefined. Prothrombin complex concentrates have promising features that may rapidly reverse coagulopathy, but remain relatively unstudied. We aim to review the liter...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Anticoagulant-associated intracranial hemorrhage (aaICH) presents with larger hematoma volumes, higher risk of hematoma expansion, and worse outcome than spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are indicated for urgent reversal of anticoagulation after aaICH. Given the lack of randomized controlled trial evidence of efficacy, and the p...

PURPOSE To evaluate our hospital protocol of low-dose vitamin K titration for preoperative warfarin reversal for early hip fracture surgery. METHODS Records of 16 men and 33 women aged 63 to 93 (mean, 81) years who were taking warfarin for atrial fibrillation (n=40), venous thromboembolism (n=9), cerebrovascular accident (n=3), and prosthetic heart valve (n=3) and underwent surgery for hip fr...

Historically, most patients who required parenteral anticoagulation received heparin, whereas those patients requiring oral anticoagulation received warfarin. Due to the narrow therapeutic index and need for frequent laboratory monitoring associated with warfarin, there has been a desire to develop newer, more effective anticoagulants. Consequently, in recent years many novel anticoagulants hav...

atrial fibrillation (af) is associated with inflammatory and hypercoagulability state. previous studies evaluated the safety and efficacy of dabigatran and warfarin in prevention of thrombothic complications. this study was intended to assess the influence of these drugs on hemostatic and inflammatory markers among patient underwent pulmonary vein ablation.   a total of 100 patients with af who...

Traumatic or spontaneous hemarthroses are an important cause of joint effusions, and can complicate innate or acquired coagulopathies. The elbow is an unusual location for a spontaneous hemarthrosis; we describe a previously unreported case of warfarin-induced spontaneous elbow hemarthrosis, diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound. On the basis of clinical and ultrasound findings arthrocentesis w...

Background: Many cardiovascular diseases may require lifelong anticoagulation therapy. Warfarin is the most prescribed medication in this regard, however, it has serious side effects. Recently the new issue regarding to warfarin dosing is considered in which some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting cytochrome P450 system can impact on warfarin metabolism and dosing. Methods: 230 c...

Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) have been the standard for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism and prosthetic heart valves for more than 50 years. In 2004, more than 30 million prescriptions for warfarin were written in the United States (1). VKA are subject to significant dietand drug-drug interactions; therefore, it is not s...