title: Antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications and the surgical patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute coronary syndrome affects more than 750,000 Americans per year, and antiplatelet agents are the cornerstones of treatment. Atrial fibrillation affects 2.4 million patients in the United States, and venous thromboembolism occurs in 1 to 2 per 1,000 adults per year. Anticoagulants are commonly prescribed to affected patients. Surgeons are commonly called upon to care for patients taking medications that affect normal coagulation. It is important that the surgical community has a fundamental understanding of these agents' pharmacology, which may impact patients' clinical course.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of recent literature on pharmacologic agents that affect coagulation was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of medications that alter normal coagulation were reviewed in this article including their pharmacologic properties and reversal strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are a variety of medications that affect a patient's coagulation ability, including many newer agents on the market. This review provides surgeons with the knowledge needed to assist in caring for individuals receiving these drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Temple University Hospital, 3401 North Broad Street, Suite 450, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. Electronic address: Brian.Yorkgitis@tuhs.temple.edu.
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yorkgitis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruggia-Check
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Critical Care and Trauma, Temple University Hospital, 3401 North Broad Street, Suite 450, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Jay E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dujon
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D014812:Vitamin K
keywords: Anticoagulation; Antiplatelet; Bleeding; Novel oral anticoagulants; Thrombosis