The new oral anticoagulants: practical management for patients attending for endoscopic procedures

Guidelines published by the British Society of Gastroenterology have standardised the care of patients attending for endoscopy procedures, taking aspirin, clopidogrel and warfarin. Two new oral anticoagulant drugs, Rivaroxaban and Dabigatran, are licensed and National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) approved for use in the UK. Unlike warfarin, these drugs do not require regular monitoring, and are at least as effective in preventing stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. As such, they are likely to become popular among patients and clinicians alike. This paper summarises the practical management of patients taking these drugs attending for endoscopic procedures.