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Current Anticoagulation Drugs and Mechanisms of Action

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Anticoagulation and Hemostasis in Neurosurgery

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Abstract

Neurosurgical patients currently taking anticoagulation at the time of presentation, elective or emergent, is increasingly common. An understanding of the mechanisms of action of these drugs as well as how to reverse their effect is essential to appropriate and timely care. Vitamin K antagonists, heparins, factor X inhibitors, and direct thrombin inhibitors all pose unique challenges in managing a neurosurgical patient with comorbid conditions. As all these drugs can present with intracranial hemorrhage, knowledge of how and when to rapidly reverse them as best as possible can be life saving.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. First Avenue, Bldg 105, Room 1900, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Tarik F. Ibrahim M.D.

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 South First Avenue, Bldg 105 Room 1900, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Sean Maxwell B.S., M.A.

  3. Department of Pathology & Ophthalmology, Loyola University Health System, 2160 S. First Avenue, Building 102, Room 2646, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA

    Omer Iqbal M.D., F.A.C.C., F.E.S.C.

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  1. Tarik F. Ibrahim M.D.
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  2. Sean Maxwell B.S., M.A.
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  3. Omer Iqbal M.D., F.A.C.C., F.E.S.C.
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Correspondence to Tarik F. Ibrahim M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Maywood, Illinois, USA

    Christopher M. Loftus

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Ibrahim, T.F., Maxwell, S., Iqbal, O. (2016). Current Anticoagulation Drugs and Mechanisms of Action. In: Loftus, C. (eds) Anticoagulation and Hemostasis in Neurosurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27327-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27327-3_3

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