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Updated: Aug 24, 2025

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
[Dabigatran Reversal: A Practical Approach]
Luciana Ricca Gonçalves1, António Robalo Nunes2
1Serviço de Imuno-hemoterapia. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto. Portugal.
Dabigatran is a direct oral anticoagulant used to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. In situations that require the urgent reversal of its anticoagulant activity, such as in the case of severe bleeding that is life-threatening; urgent/ emergent surgery or invasive procedures with significant bleeding risk; and the need for thrombolysis in a patient with ischemic stroke, several measures can be taken, including the use of its specific reversal agent, idarucizumab. Based on the guidelines for the use of reversal agents for oral anticoagulants, and on the clinical experience of reversal of dabigatran, a practical guide is presented for use in clinical situations where reversal of dabigatran anticoagulation is required, including the use of idarucizumab. The adoption of this type of guideline contributes to therapeutic optimization and, consequently, greater reversal efficiency and a better resource management.
Dabigatran is a direct oral anticoagulant used to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. In situations that require the urgent reversal of its anticoagulant activity, such as in the case of severe bleeding that is life-threatening; urgent/ emergent surgery or invasive procedures with significant bleeding risk; and the need for thrombolysis in a patient with ischemic stroke, several measures can be taken, including the use of its specific reversal agent, idarucizumab. Based on the guidelines for the use of reversal agents for oral anticoagulants, and on the clinical experience of reversal of dabigatran, a practical guide is presented for use in clinical situations where reversal of dabigatran anticoagulation is required, including the use of idarucizumab. The adoption of this type of guideline contributes to therapeutic optimization and, consequently, greater reversal efficiency and a better resource management.
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