Anticoagulant therapy is employed in several clinical situations. Some of these clinical situations include:
- After an episode of thrombosis, such as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the veins of the legs, to prevent reoccurrence.
- Prophylactically after some surgeries, especially those involving vascular repair such as coronary bypass surgery, to prevent clots from blocking newly formed vasculature.
- In heart valve and chamber disorders, there is an increased risk of thrombosis.
Although new anticoagulant therapies exist, this fundamentals course will discuss the most common forms of anticoagulants, heparin and warfarin.
