blood thinners Flashcards
Vit K antagonists - food interactions
- vitamin K found in health foods, food supplements, enteral feeds, large amounts of some green veg or green tea
- major changes in diet esp involving salads and veg and alcohol can affect AC control
- pomegranate juice increases INR
- heavy alcohol can decrease AC effect
warfarin dose
- initially 5-10mg on day 1, subsequent doses dependent on prothrombin time, reported as INR
- lower induction dose can be given over 3-4 weeks in pt who don’t require rapid AC
- lower induction dose in elderly
- maintenance 3mg - 9mg daily, take at same time each day
Name the 3 vitamin K antagonists
- warfarin
- acenocoumarol
- phenindione
how do vitamin k antagonists work
- antagonist effects of vitamin k
- take at least 48-72 hours for AC effect to fully develop
what to do if immediate effect is required with warfarin
- warfarin takes at least 48-72h for AC effect to develop fully
- immediate effect needed: give unfractionated or LMWH concomitantly
target INRs - 2.5 and 3.5
- 3.5 for recurrent DVT or PE in pt currently receiving AC and with an INR above 2, and rechanical heart valves
- 2.5 for everything else, including AF, treatment of DVT or PE, MI etc
An INR that is within …. units of the target value is generally satisfactory, larger deviations require….
0.5 units
dose adjustments
target INR for mechanical prosthetic heart valves depends on…
- depends on type and location of valve and pt-related RF
what to consider if embolic event occurs while anti coagulated at the target INR for mechanical prosthetic heart valves
- consider increasing INR target or adding anti platelet
do not use vitamin K antagonists 1st line in
- cerebral artery thrombosis or peripheral artery occlusion
what is more appropriate for reduction of risk in TIA
aspirin
what is usually preferred for prophylaxis of VTE in pt undergoing surgery
UFH or LMWH
main adverse effect of all oral ACs
haemorrhage
What to do if a pt is on warfarin and has major bleeding
- stop warfarin
- give phytomenadione by slow IV injection
- give dried prothrombin complex
- if dried prothrombin complex unavailable, fresh frozen plasma (but less effective)
- recombinant factor VIIa not recommended for emergency AC reversal
what to do if a pt is on warfarin and INR >8.0 with minor bleeding
- stop warfarin
- give phytomenadione by slow IV injection
- repeat dose if INR still too high after 24h
- restart warfarin when INR <5
what to do if pt on warfarin and has INR >8.0 and no bleeding
- stop warfarin
- give phytomenadione by mouth using IV prep orally (unlicensed use)
- repeat dose if INR still too high after 24h
- restart warfarin when INR <5
what to do if pt on warfarin has INR 5.0-8.0 and minor bleeding
- stop warfarin
- give phyomenadione by slow IV Injection
- restart warfarin when INR <5
what to do if pt on warfarin has INR 5.0-8.0 and no bleeding
withhold 1-2 doses and reduce subsequent maintenance dose
what to do if pt on warfarin has unexpected bleeding at therapeutic levels
always investigate possibility of underlying cause e.g. unsuspected renal or GIT pathology
when to usually stop warfarin before elective surgery
5 days before
what to do if INR on day before surgery is ≥1.5 (and warfarin has been stopped for 5 days)
give phytomenadione by mouth using IV prep orally (unlicensed use)
what to do with warfarin if haemostasis (bleeding stopped) is adequate following surgery
can resume warfarin at normal maintenance dose on evening or surgery or on next day
which pt may require interim therapy (bridging) with LMWH (using treatment dose)
- pt stopping warfarin before surgery who are considered to be at high risk of TE (eg. TE event within last 3 months, AF with previous stroke or TIA, mitral mechanical heart valve)
when to stop LMWH bridging therapy for warfarin before surgery and when to restart
- stop LMWH at least 24h before surgery
- if surgery high risk of bleeding, do not restart LMWH until at least 48h after surgery