Newer Oral Anticoagulants and Anaesthesia

Abstract

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com J Anesth Crit Care Open Access 2015, 2(3): 00059 The conventional anticoagulants have their limitations, like unpredictable response, potential for drug-interactions and the need of parenteral administration of heparin.1 In view of these limitations and to have better drug profile, newer anticoagulants are being researched and marketed for clinical use. The newer oral anticoagulants agents (NOACs) have been developed with advantages for faster onset and offset action, better efficacy with less side effects, predictable response, reduced need of regular monitoring and less side effects [1-5]. The NOACs are direct, selective and reversible inhibitors of factor Xa (apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban) or factor IIa (dabigatran). However as anaesthesiologists we must be aware of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of these newer drugs to optimise their use in the perioperative period. The experience with these newer drugs is limited and so their limited data on their management in perioperative period.