Every 2 seconds a blood transfusion is needed in the United States. Let me walk you through what you need to know about how we derive and how we use blood products. We give transfusions as a way to supplement blood loss, maintain hemostasis and oxygenation in a wide range of scenarios: major blood lossContinue reading “How to Use 5 Blood Products from Whole Blood”
Category Archives: Anticoagulation
Everything You Need to Know: Edoxaban
Warfarin, the traditional anticoagulant, has drawbacks such as narrow therapeutic range and frequent monitoring. Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC) address these limitations. DOACs directly inhibit clotting factors, unlike warfarin which indirectly inhibits them. They are preferred due to easier administration, fewer interactions, and superior efficacy. Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban are the available DOACs, each with unique attributes and considerations for administration and interactions.
Everything You Need to Know: Dabigatran
Dabigatran changed the landscape and set a new standard for oral anticoagulation in 2010. It was the first oral alternative to warfarin and the inaugural member of the drug class Direct Acting Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs). It is still the only oral anticoagulant in the subclass of Direct Thrombin Inhibitor. Let me walk you through everythingContinue reading “Everything You Need to Know: Dabigatran”
Rivaroxaban: What You Need to Know to Maximize Patient Outcomes
2 million people use rivaroxaban each year. The benefits are proven, the risks are manageable. Let me what you through what you need to know to minimize risk and optimize efficacy. Rivaroxaban is an oral anticoagulant. It belongs to the drug class: Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC). DOACs were introduced in 2010 as an alternative toContinue reading “Rivaroxaban: What You Need to Know to Maximize Patient Outcomes”
Everything You Need to Know: Apixaban
Apixaban is an oral anticoagulant. It belongs to the drug class: Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC). DOACs were introduced in 2010 as an alternative to warfarin. They address alot of the complexities associated with the use of warfarin. Warfarin is effective within a very narrow therapeutic range. This window of efficacy is easily disrupted by manyContinue reading “Everything You Need to Know: Apixaban”
Fundamentals of Warfarin Dosing
Efficacy of warfarin is determined by the attain and maintaining an INR (International Normalized Ratio) with a narrow range of usually 2-3. This requires consistent blood monitoring. INR is essentially a measure of how quickly blood will clot. The unit Warfarin: The Fundamentals discusses the mechanism of action and drug interactions of warfarin in moreContinue reading “Fundamentals of Warfarin Dosing”
What You Need to Know: Hemostasis
Hemostasis is achieved through primary and secondary stages. The coagulation cascade, part of secondary hemostasis, stabilizes the platelet plug. It consists of extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways, involving multiple clotting factors and calcium ions. Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of some clotting factors. Each pathway is triggered by specific factors and leads to the activation of the common pathway, ultimately resulting in the formation of a stabilizing fibrin complex.
Warfarin: The Fundamentals
Warfarin, a groundbreaking oral anticoagulant, has a narrow therapeutic index and requires careful management. Its mechanism of action, drug interactions, and effects on vitamin K, platelet function, and absorption are crucial to consider. Individual dosing and patient education are essential, and its benefits make it a preferred choice in specific cases despite its challenges.