Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 2011
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyLevosimendan versus an intra-aortic balloon pump in adult cardiac surgery patients with low cardiac output.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Dec 2011
ReviewAdvances in anticoagulation: focus on dabigatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor.
Dabigatran is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor with a rapid onset. Patients on dabigatran do not require coagulation monitoring. Recent prospective randomized trials have shown the efficacy of dabigatran for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after knee or hip arthroplasty and for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. ⋯ There currently is no reversal agent for dabigatran although hemodialysis can facilitate its rapid removal in life-threatening circumstances. The management of severe bleeding associated with dabigatran also may include the administration of a procoagulant, such as recombinant activated factor VII. Based on recent guidelines, regional anesthesia should be used cautiously in patients taking this novel oral thrombin inhibitor.