A Narrative Review for Perioperative Physicians of the 2017 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway on Management of Bleeding in Patients on Oral Anticoagulants.

ABSTRACT

In 2017 the American College of Cardiology issued an Expert Consensus Decision Pathway dedicated specifically to the management of bleeding in patients on anticoagulants. The consensus document is both timely and important as indications for more novel anticoagulants expand rapidly. The document reviews in detail recommendations for interruption, management and re-initiation of anticoagulation in bleeding scenarios. Numerous points within the document are relevant to perioperative physicians managing patients on anticoagulation with either bleeding complications or undergoing surgical procedures. The intent of this narrative review is to highlight the salient points within the expert consensus for perioperative physicians.