Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
23:33
The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
[Oral anticoagulants in clinical practice]
P Marko1, H Flückiger, S Christeller
1Fakultäre Instanz für Allgemeinmedizin (FIAM), Universität Bern.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|May 9, 1992
Summary
Oral anticoagulation (OA) therapy in ambulatory settings proved effective and safe. This study demonstrates low complication rates, supporting its use in routine practice for eligible patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Oral anticoagulation (OA) use in ambulatory settings presents challenges regarding efficacy and safety.
- Assessing OA performance is crucial for its continued application in outpatient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation in ambulatory practice.
- To determine complication rates and therapeutic range adherence for OA in a real-world setting.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 538 patients across 24 ambulatory practices over one year.
- Monitoring thromboplastin time, therapeutic range achievement, and adverse events.
- Comparison of observed mortality rates with national averages.
Main Results:
- 72% of thromboplastin times were within the target range, and 90.6% within the therapeutic range.
- Bleeding complications occurred in 7.6% of patients (11.6/100 treatment years).
- Low rates of OA interruption (2.6%), hospital admissions (2.3%), and no deaths attributed to OA complications were observed.
Conclusions:
- Oral anticoagulation is highly effective in ambulatory practices.
- The therapy demonstrates a low rate of complications, supporting its safe use in this setting.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
01:18Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
01:20Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
01:29Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
01:30Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management
Nursing management begins with a thorough assessment of the patient's health history. Key factors include trauma to veins, peripherally inserted central catheters, varicose veins, recent pregnancy or childbirth, surgery, bacteremia, prolonged bed rest, atrial fibrillation, COPD, heart failure, cancer, coagulation disorders, myocardial infarction, spinal cord injury, stroke, prolonged travel, recent bone fractures, and dehydration. Review medication intake, particularly oral contraceptives,...
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Diagnosing Pulmonary EmbolismDiagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) involves clinical assessment and advanced imaging tests. The preferred diagnostic tool is the spiral (helical) CT scan or CT angiography (CTA), which uses intravenous contrast media to visualize the pulmonary vasculature and identify emboli.A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is an alternative for patients unable to receive contrast media. This scan includes both perfusion and ventilation scanning. Perfusion scanning involves...