title: Consensus recommendations for preventing and managing bleeding complications associated with novel oral anticoagulants in singapore.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have at least equivalent efficacy compared to standard anticoagulants with similar bleeding risk. Optimal management strategies for bleeding complications associated with NOACs are currently unestablished.
  
  
  METHODS
  A working group comprising haematologists and vascular medicine specialists representing the major institutions in Singapore was convened to produce this consensus recommendation. A Medline and EMBASE search was conducted for articles related to the 3 available NOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban), bleeding and its management. Additional information was obtained from the product monographs and bibliographic search of articles identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NOACs still has substantial interactions with a number of drugs for which concomitant administration should best be avoided. As they are renally excreted, albeit to different degrees, NOACs should not be prescribed to patients with creatinine clearance of <30 mLs/min. Meticulous consideration of risk versus benefits should be exercised before starting a patient on a NOAC. In patients presenting with bleeding, risk stratification of the severity of bleeding as well as identification of the source of bleeding should be performed. In life-threatening bleeds, recombinant activated factor VIIa and prothrombin complex may be considered although their effectiveness is currently unsupported by firm clinical evidence. The NOACs have varying effect on the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time which has to be interpreted with caution. Routine monitoring of drug level is not usually required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NOACs are an important advancement in antithrombotic management and careful patient selection and monitoring will permit optimisation of their potential and limit bleeding events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Heng Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Yen Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Kuperan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ponnudurai
authors.forename: Lay Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Jam Chin
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Pankaj Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.forename: Mufeedha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akbar Ali
authors.forename: Lai Heng
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D000069604:Dabigatran; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D012846:Singapore; D013876:Thiophenes
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D013876:Thiophenes; D000069604:Dabigatran