Implications of new anticoagulants in primary practice.

BACKGROUND: Effective prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic disorders remain suboptimal in many healthcare systems, partly owing to limitations of traditional anticoagulants. New oral anticoagulants have been developed and among these, rivaroxaban, apixaban and dabigatran etexilate are in the most advanced stage of clinical development. METHOD: A literature search using the PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov databases was performed to identify English-language publications. The search was performed up to 31 December 2011 with the terms rivaroxaban OR Xarelto, apixaban OR Eliquis and dabigatran OR Pradaxa. Ongoing, completed and published phase III randomised controlled trials were selected as the primary source of information for the clinical development programme of each drug. RESULTS: The new oral agents demonstrate several advantages over traditional anticoagulants, including administration at fixed doses and no requirement for routine coagulation monitoring On the basis of phase III clinical trials, rivaroxaban, apixaban and dabigatran etexilate have been approved in many countries for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after hip and knee replacement surgery. Dabigatran etexilate and rivaroxaban have also been approved for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Europe and the US. In addition, rivaroxaban has been approved in Europe for the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis and prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism. Approval of these agents and postapproval monitoring of their safety and efficacy will have implications for primary care. CONCLUSION: Rivaroxaban, apixaban and dabigatran etexilate offer the possibility of simplified prevention and treatment strategies for thromboembolic disorders in the outpatient setting.

Real-world practices to prevent venous thromboembolism with pharmacological prophylaxis in US orthopedic surgery patients: an analysis of an integrated healthcare database.

Major orthopedic surgery patients are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in-hospital and post-discharge. This study assessed real-world inpatient and outpatient thromboprophylaxis practices following knee or hip arthroplasty. Patients from the Henry Ford Health System aged ≥18 years undergoing knee and hip arthroplasty (January 1997-June 2007) were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes from administrative databases. Patients with <18 months of continuous enrollment in the system's health maintenance organization or with a current diagnosis of atrial fibrillation were excluded. Both inpatient and outpatient pharmacological prophylaxis was assessed. The analysis included 1393 (58.5%) patients following knee arthroplasty and 989 (41.5%) following hip arthroplasty. Average length of hospitalization was 4.9 days over the study period, although the median stay decreased from 5 days in 1997 to 3 days in 2007. Of patients included, 72.7% received pharmacological prophylaxis only in the inpatient setting following knee arthroplasty and 73.9% following hip arthroplasty. Both inpatient and outpatient pharmacological prophylaxis was received by 12.5% of knee and 12.3% of hip arthroplasty patients. Total length of pharmacological prophylaxis fluctuated between 2 to 4 days between 1997 and 2005, but increased to 11.5 ± 9.0 days in 2007. Although the duration of prophylaxis has recently increased, considerable numbers of hip and knee arthroplasty patients only receive prophylaxis for part of the time period recommended by guidelines. Further efforts are required to ensure the recommended duration of thromboprophylaxis is prescribed to all patients and continued outpatient VTE prophylaxis is provided.

Applying scientific criteria to therapeutic interchange: a balanced analysis of low-molecular-weight heparins.

Under pressure to provide cost-effective healthcare, many healthcare systems have adopted Therapeutic Interchange (TI) programs-the interchange of therapeutically equivalent but chemically unique drugs-to reduce the total cost of therapy without compromising patient care. To be appropriate and feasible, a TI program for any class of drugs must meet certain rigorous criteria and undergo medical, financial, tactical, and legal reviews. Moreover, once a TI program is implemented, a process to monitor its success should be established. Application of the TI criteria to low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) reveals that a blanket TI program for LMWHs does not appear advisable at this time.

Duration of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism prophylaxis after joint arthroplasty.

One of the most important complications after joint arthroplasty is the development of deep vein thrombosis. Despite effective prophylaxis modalities, studies have shown a significant incidence of thrombotic events after hospital discharge. This article reviews the literature on the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and provides recommendations for managing postoperative joint replacement patients.

Treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism with low molecular weight heparin in the geriatric patient population.

Low-molecular-weight heparins have provided a new approach to treating DVT-PE. These anticoagulants have better bioavailability, a longer half-life, and a more predictable antithrombotic effect than UFH. In the studies reviewed, LMWHs were shown to be safe and effective in preventing recurrent thrombotic events when compared with the more precise UFH dosing schedules. There has been no evidence of an increased incidence of major bleeding or recurrent thromboembolic events based on age in these trials. With these findings LMWHs given subcutaneously, without laboratory monitoring, in a dose determined by actual body weight allows clinicians involved in the care of the elderly to manage these patients with DVT with or without PE in the nursing home setting, skilled nursing care facilities, rehabilitation units, acute care hospital setting, or as described in this article at home. These patients can continue their physical therapy programs because intravenous infusion lines and the necessity to be maintained at bedrest do not encumber them.

Low-molecular-weight heparins versus unfractionated heparin in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

In the United States, there are approximately 217,000 patients with deep-vein thrombosis hospitalized each year. The cause for these thrombotic events include surgery, trauma, malignancy, hereditary thrombotic disorders, stroke, spinal cord injury, and idiopathic. Frequently, a number of these patients are cared for in rehabilitation units or centers to improve their functional status. This rehabilitation process is often interrupted with the development of deep vein thrombosis and or pulmonary embolism. These patients are placed on bedrest and, often, are transferred to an acute care hospital to receive continuous infusion unfractionated heparin with a targeted activated partial thromboplastin time of 1.5-2.5 times the baseline value and warfarin to achieve an international normalized ratio of 2-3. Recently, the low-molecular-weight heparins have been shown to be as or more effective than unfractionated heparin, have less major bleeding complications, and do not require laboratory monitoring of coagulation tests to adjust medications. The purpose of this article is to review the efficacy and safety of low-molecular-weight heparins and provide physiatrists with a rationale approach for managing patients with deep vein thrombosis and or pulmonary embolism on their respective units.

Prophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the surgical patient.

The fifth American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy provides the most up-to-date guidelines for the prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in the surgical patient (1). These recommendations have become a major guideline for clinicians managing patients in the perioperative period. Despite these recommendations, there remains a concern for balancing the risk of major postoperative bleeding with the benefit of preventing thrombosis. In an attempt to resolve this issue, clinicians have requested clear-cut guidelines for identification of high-risk groups for whom prophylaxis must be used. This article will review the etiology, risk-factor stratification, regimens of prophylaxis, and recommendations for prevention of postoperative DVT and PE.

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism prophylaxis in joint replacement surgery.

Joint replacement surgery is one of the most frequently performed procedures in the United States. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is very high in patients not receiving prophylaxis for the prevention of this postoperative complication. In this article, the current modalities for prophylaxis are reviewed with respect to their safety and efficacy. Recommendations that have been substantiated by evidence-based information are provided.

Use of enoxaparin for the chronically anticoagulated patient before and after procedures.

Patients who require chronic anticoagulation and a procedure have been traditionally managed either by stopping warfarin and starting intravenous standard heparin or by adjusted dose subcutaneous standard heparin or taken off all anticoagulation for a week before the procedure. Enoxaparin may be useful as an alternative method of anticoagulation, avoiding hospitalization and the need for frequent monitoring.

Outpatient anticoagulation issues for the primary care physician.

Increasingly, primary care providers are caring for patients who require anticoagulation. In this article the indications for, complications of, and methods of dosing and monitoring warfarin in the outpatient setting are reviewed. Heparin use among ambulatory patients also is discussed.

The outpatient with unilateral leg swelling.

Approaching the patient with unilateral leg swelling presents a challenge to the physician in ambulatory practice. Contributing to the difficulty is the lack of studies that have assessed a population of patients presenting with unilateral leg swelling. The purpose of this article is to discuss unilateral leg swelling with respect to the chronicity of the presentation and the most common differential diagnoses based on a review of the current literature and personal clinical experience.

Etiology, incidence, and prevention of deep vein thrombosis in acute spinal cord injury.

This article provides a critical review of the literature on the etiology, incidence, and prevention of deep-vein thrombosis in acute spinal cord injured patients. Stasis and hypercoagulability are the two major factors contributing to the development of thrombosis in this patient population. This has been supported by studies that demonstrate an impaired venous return from the lower extremities and abnormal coagulation factors, which predispose to thrombogenesis. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis secondary to the above etiologies varies from 49% to 100% in the first 12 weeks with the first 2 weeks having the highest rate following acute injury. This high rate of complication has led to numerous studies to identify the most effective regimens of prophylaxis. Studies using noninvasive testing and venography in acute spinal cord injury have supported two approaches for preventing deep-vein thrombosis. Single agent pharmacologic therapy with adjusted dose heparin is effective but does carry some risk of bleeding. Combination therapy with external pneumatic compression sleeves plus either aspirin/dipyridamole or low-dose heparin and electrical stimulation plus low-dose heparin have significantly reduced the incidence of deep vein thrombosis. The duration of prophylaxis with the above modalities has varied between 8 and 12 weeks following acute injury. Further large scale studies are required in this high-risk population to better delineate the incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, to identify the best modalities, and to define the duration of treatment for the prevention of these complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Approaching the surgical patient. Role of the medical consultant.

Medical consultants will no longer "clear patients" but will "prepare them" for surgery instead. They will be required to possess the expertise in assessing a patient's risk for surgery, managing perioperative medications, caring for postoperative complications, maintaining appropriate conduct in the role as consultant, and recording accurate documentation of level of service for third party reimbursement.

What's new for the medical consultant.

The role of the medical consultant caring for the surgical patient has evolved over the last 20 years as numerous books and articles have contributed to the knowledge base of this field. Consultants used to merely "clear" patients for surgery. Now, guidelines based on data are available to direct many perioperative management decisions. The consultant is responsible for knowing the ever-growing body of literature and for conducting himself or herself according to accepted guidelines for consultation.

Update. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism prophylaxis in orthopedic surgery.

Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism continue to be controversial areas for prophylaxis in orthopedic surgery. This patient population continues to have the highest incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism when inappropriately or not prophylaxis for this complication. This article reviews the current modalities for prophylaxis with respect to their safety and efficacy. In addition, the new modalities of low molecular weight heparin and arteriovenous impulse system are presented.

Medical consultation in the patient with multiple trauma.

Medical consultation is frequently requested to assist the trauma team in the management of the patient with multiple traumatic injuries. Four areas are commonly encountered as problems for management in this patient population. In this article, myocardial contusion, stress ulceration, seizure prophylaxis, and deep vein thrombosis prevention are addressed with respect to incidence, assessment, and management.