Anticoagulation Monitoring and Reversal

Abstract

The balance of natural procoagulant and anticoagulant activity within the body is delicate, and a minor disruption may lead to bleeding or clotting complications. Anticoagulation in critical illness is often necessary for a host of reasons, either prophylactic or therapeutic. This chapter reviews common anticoagulation management issues in the critically ill patient, such as optimal laboratory monitoring of anticoagulation therapy and urgent reversal options, focusing on the most common anticoagulants used in current practice.