title: Management of haemorrhagic complications associated with oral anticoagulant treatment.
abstract: The frequency of anticoagulant-related bleeding has been reported to range 1-7% per year, depending on the indication for anticoagulant therapy and the classification of bleeding. Although most bleeding is not life threatening, it does cause short-term morbidity and inconvenience to patients, as well as possibly diminishing their quality of life to some degree. Assessing the risk of anticoagulant-related bleeding is integral to optimising the management of anticoagulant therapy. Furthermore, early recognition and treatment of anticoagulant-related bleeding can reduce the associated morbidity. This article reviews the definitions of major and minor bleeding, the assessment of risk and preventive strategies and the management of anticoagulant-related bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine and The Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies, VAMC (152), 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA. rbeyth@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beyth
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin