Anticoagulants Flashcards
List some common anticoagulants:
Warfarin (Coumadin) Heparin Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) Dabigatran (Pradaxa) Apixaban (Eliquis) Edoxaban (Lixiana)
Why are anticoagulants prescribed?
To prevent blood clot formation
What are the consequences if blood clots form in the body?
- Results in blockages within the blood vessels which can starve organs form oxygen and cause them to stop functioning properly.
- Can result in:
1. Strokes + TIA’s
2. MIs
3. DVTs
4. Pulmonary embolism
List examples of some pt.’s that may be taking anticoagulants:
- Pt.’s with artificial heart valves
- Pt.’s with atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
- Pt.’s who have had a heart attack
- Pt.’s who have heart diseases, such as cardiomyopathy
- Pt.’s who are at risk of developing blood clots
List some routes of administration:
- Anticoagulants can be taken as:
1. Tablets
2. By injection
3. By IV drip.
What is a thrombus?
A thrombus is a blood clot that occurs inside the vascular system (i.e., within a blood vessel like an artery or vein)
Describe how normal homeostatic conditions are maintained within the body
During routine homeostatic conditions, the human body maintains a constant balance between thrombus formation and destruction. This equilibrium is maintained by a complex interaction between platelets and the vascular endothelium, the coagulation cascade, and the fibrinolytic system. The coagulation cascade (Figure 1) involves an interaction between the contact activation pathway (previously called the intrinsic system), and the tissue factor pathway (previously the extrinsic system). These two seemingly independent pathways lead to the conversion of factor X to Xa, which is the start of the common pathway. This common pathway converts prothrombin to thrombin, which subsequently catalyzes the formation of fibrin and ultimately leads to the stabilization of aggregated platelets to form a stable clot.
What is the purpose of hemostasis?
Ultimate end goal of the hemostatic cascade is the formation of a “plug / clot” that closes up the damaged site of the injured blood vessel and controls the bleeding.
What does hemorrhage mean?
an acute loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel
What is hemorrhagic shock?
Hemorrhagic shock is an acute medical emergency where the organs in the body began to shut down / fail resulting in clinical manifestations of “shock” symptoms such as a decrease in blood pressure, a drop in body temperature
What causes hemorrhagic shock?
occurs when the blood loss from a hemorrhage leads to inadequate tissue oxygenation.
What are the clinical signs + symptoms of hemorrhagic shock?
blue lips and fingernails low or no urine output excessive sweating shallow breathing dizziness or loss of consciousness confusion chest pain decreased / low blood pressure decreased / low body temperature rapid heart rate weak pulse anxiety and a sense of impending doom
What is Hypovolemia?
a decrease in the volume of circulating blood in the body
What is Hypovolemia?
A decrease in the volume of circulating blood in the body
What is the difference between a NOAC and a DOAC?
Nothing. They are just different names for the same types of drug.
