Hiteshi K.C. Chauhan: Oral Anticoagulant Reversal in Major Bleeding and Urgent Surgery
Hiteshi K.C. Chauhan, Consultant, Department of Cardiology at Fortis Healthcare, shared a post on LinkedIn about a recent article by Bianca Rocca et al., published in NEJM, adding:
“Anticoagulation Reversal: Right Treatment. Right Patient. Right Time.
As anticoagulant use continues to increase across cardiovascular practice, timely and appropriate reversal is becoming increasingly important.
Effective reversal strategies can reduce bleeding-related morbidity, facilitate urgent interventions, and help balance the competing risks of haemorrhage and thrombosis.
Familiarity with these pathways is therefore essential for clinicians managing acutely unwell patients.
Management of oral anticoagulant reversal remains a common and high-stakes clinical challenge, particularly in patients presenting with major bleeding or requiring urgent surgery.
This practical framework highlights the key considerations for reversal across different anticoagulant classes:
- Vitamin K antagonists: reversal guided by bleeding severity, INR, and procedural urgency, using vitamin K and/or 4-factor PCC.
- Factor Xa inhibitors: decision-making centred on the ‘4 Ts’ – type of bleeding, timing of last dose, thrombotic risk, and anticipated need for procedures. Treatment options include specific reversal agents (andexanet alfa) or 4-factor PCC.
- Dabigatran: reversal guided by the ‘3 Rs’ – risk (bleeding severity), residual drug activity, and renal function, with idarucizumab as the specific antidote.
What protocols does your institution follow for anticoagulant reversal in major bleeding or emergency procedures?”
Title: Antidotes for Anticoagulation Reversal
Authors: Bianca Rocca, Hugo ten Cat

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