Commentary The optimal management of patients who need long-term oral anticoagulation and coronary stenting is unknown. Bleeding risks are substantial with triple oral anticoagulation therapy using an oral anticoagulant plus aspirin and clopidogrel for antiplatelet therapy. The WOEST trial showed a reduction in the primary endpoint of any bleeding in patients who received double therapy (oral a...

THE COMMON USE of anticoagulant drugs in the treatment of thrombotic manifestations has increased the awareness of resulting complications, notably bleeding from the gastrointestinal and the genitourinary tracts. The incidence of such complications has been estimated between 2 and 19 per cent.' Fatal hemorrhage in a series of 1,091 patients was 0.5 per cent.2 3 When a hemorrhage occurs, it is u...

One disadvantage of direct anticoagulant drug is the lack of an antidote, which may become relevant in patients with traumatic brain injury. A 77-years old man with atrial fibrillation and syncope received dabigatran despite recurrent falls. Due to a ground-level-fall, he suffered from subarachnoidal and intraparenchymal hemorrhages, subdural hematoma and brain edema with a midline shift. Despi...

THE COMMON USE of anticoagulant drugs in the treatment of thrombotic manifestations has increased the awareness of resulting complications, notably bleeding from the gastrointestinal and the genitourinary tracts. The incidence of such complications has been estimated between 2 and 19 per cent.' Fatal hemorrhage in a series of 1,091 patients was 0.5 per cent.2 3 When a hemorrhage occurs, it is u...

THE COMMON USE of anticoagulant drugs in the treatment of thrombotic manifestations has increased the awareness of resulting complications, notably bleeding from the gastrointestinal and the genitourinary tracts. The incidence of such complications has been estimated between 2 and 19 per cent.' Fatal hemorrhage in a series of 1,091 patients was 0.5 per cent.2 3 When a hemorrhage occurs, it is u...

BACKGROUND Hospital anticoagulant clinics are available only in some areas. There is little information on the contribution of general practitioners to oral anticoagulant monitoring, and whether their management varies with access to hospital clinics. AIM A study was undertaken to compare general practice management of anticoagulant therapy in two health boards with contrasting access to hosp...