Journal of pharmacy practice
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Updates in recent clinical guidelines have led to a change in the management of perioperative anticoagulation for patients on oral anticoagulant therapy. No standardized bridging consensus exists in the literature. ⋯ Patients are bridged with agents with appropriate kinetics to allow for their elimination prior to the time of the procedure in order to decrease the risk of hemorrhage during invasive procedures. This intent of this article is to discuss perioperative bridging therapy and provide a practical guide for the clinician.
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There are currently over 1 million patients admitted to hospitals in the United States with the diagnosis of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS). Due to the significant morbidity and mortality associated with NSTE ACS, appropriate use of the numerous medications employed is critical in ensuring optimal outcomes. ⋯ There are a number of different anticoagulant agents available for use in patients with NSTE ACS, but it is essential to have an in-depth knowledge of the setting in which these agents have been investigated, what current consensus guidelines recommend, as well as an appreciation for the treatment approach and philosophy of the institution for management of patients with NSTE ACS. In this review manuscript, the reader will find an evaluation of the current guidelines concerning the use of anticoagulant therapy in patients with NSTE ACS, as well as a detailed examination of the literature with critical analysis on issues that should be considered when deciding on the appropriate implementation of anticoagulant therapy in protocols for NSTE ACS patients.
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Continuous infusion unfractionated heparin (UH) has traditionally been monitored using the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The use of this test to monitor heparin therapy is not based on randomized controlled clinical trials, and the test is associated with significant intra- and inter-patient variability that is not related to circulating blood heparin activity. ⋯ In this review, we discuss the limitations of using the aPTT to monitor UH therapy and additionally the limitations of solely using heparin activity to monitor therapy. We also include a discussion of the challenges with monitoring heparin therapy in the pediatric population.
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Therapeutic anticoagulation with heparins, warfarin, and anti-Xa inhibitors carry an inherent risk of complications due to their multifaceted pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties as well as narrow therapeutic ranges. When an anticoagulated patient presents with a major or life-threatening bleed, immediate and effective therapy may be necessary to reverse the effects of the anticoagulant, minimize blood loss, and reduce patient morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Thus, as new anticoagulants become available, without a specific agent for reversal, the concerns and controversies related to this topic must be addressed. The purpose of this review is to discuss the management of major or life-threatening bleeds by addressing the following controversies: (1) the use of recombinant factor VIIa for rapid reversal of warfarin in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, (2) the role of prothrombin complex concentrate in emergent warfarin reversal, and (3) the optimal approach to reverse newer anticoagulants such as low molecular weight heparins, fondaparinux, and direct thrombin inhibitors.
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Review Case Reports
Aripiprazole for the treatment of adolescent Tourette's syndrome: a case report.
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric, lifelong disorder with onset in childhood. The essential features of this disorder are multiple motor tics and one or more vocalizations. The neurochemical pathophysiology of GTS involves an unknown abnormality in the central dopaminergic system. ⋯ Aripiprazole was titrated over the next 4 weeks to 6.5 mg/d, with significant results. Over the next 6 months, aripiprazole was titrated again to 10 mg/d with additional symptom reduction. This case illustrates a patient who responded to aripiprazole with no reported adverse effects, when standard therapy failed to improve symptoms.