Perioperative interruption of direct oral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation: A comparative analysis.

Background: There is a paucity of studies comparing postoperative thromboembolic and major bleeding complications following perioperative interruption of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs).

Objective/methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare postoperative thromboembolic and major bleeding outcomes following perioperative interruption of DOACs and VKAs in patients with atrial fibrillation. The primary efficacy and safety outcomes were the 30-day postoperative rates of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) and major bleeding, respectively.

Pharmacological reversal of the direct oral anticoagulants-A comprehensive review of the literature.

The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are used for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (SPAF) and the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE). Although DOAC-associated bleeding events are less frequent as compared to vitamin K antagonists, there is significant concern surrounding physicians' ability to evaluate and manage DOAC-associated bleeding when it does occur. Idarucizumab is a specific reversal agent for dabigatran and is the agent of choice for dabigatran reversal in the setting of major bleeding or urgent surgery/procedures.

Cyclic thrombocytopenia with statistically significant neutrophil oscillations.

Cyclic thrombocytopenia is often misdiagnosed as immune thrombocytopenia due to similar clinical features, a fact of significance because cyclic thrombocytopenia generally responds poorly to treatments used successfully in immune thrombocytopenia. A precise diagnosis must establish the statistical significance of periodicity of the platelet counts using statistical methods (eg, Lomb-Scargle periodogram).