Clinical Conversations

August 16th, 2019

Podcast 229: Simplifying perioperative anticoagulation in AF

Patients with atrial fibrillation who undergo surgical procedures need special attention because their anticoagulant medications, if not adjusted, increase their risk for bleeding. Those on direct-acting oral anticoagulants — or “DOACs” — face special problems because assays for the amount of drug on-board before surgery are not routinely available. Dr. James Douketis and international colleagues have […]

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July 11th, 2015

Podcast 179: Pradaxa (dabigatran) reversal near?

Running time: 20 minutes The anticoagulant dabigatran, marketed in the U.S. as Pradaxa, has always had the problem that, although it’s more convenient to use, there’s no sure way to stop its effect if the patient has a major bleed. Now, a monoclonal antibody fragment called idarucizumab (pronounced i-DARE-you-scis-ooh-mab) shows promise as a reversal agent. In an […]

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January 13th, 2012

Podcast 141: Clinically apparent atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk; does subclinical afib do the same?

Yes, it apparently does. An international study in the New England Journal of Medicine monitored subclinical atrial fibrillation among some 2600 patients who’d just received an implanted pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator. After 3 months of monitoring, about 10% of the group showed subclinical episodes of afib lasting at least 6 minutes. Over an additional 2.5 years of follow-up the […]

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