Daniel Victor Ortigoza

By Ortigoza Daniel Víctor

Atrial fibrillation is a frequently observed entity in medical practice, with cases on the rise if we focus on age groups of frail elderly patients. It is important to identify them since advanced age and comorbidities suppose greater numbers of cases of thromboembolic diseases and strokes, entities that can be prevented with the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), managing a balance between prevention and safety and thus avoiding complications, for this, a correct search and screening must be made to reach the largest number of patients who could benefit from this therapy. Old age is not a synonym of frailty, so, we must be cautious with the loss of autonomy of our patients and we must have a multidisciplinary approach to accompany this increasingly frequent and extended period, being very alert to drug interactions and decreased daily life skills.

Part of the book: Anticoagulation

By Pablo César Spada and Daniel Victor Ortigoza

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), constitutes a matter of great concern in cancer patients due to its capacity of increasing morbimortality in such population. It is more common than expected and can occur at any time during the history of cancer, sometimes being the first presenting manifestation of the disease. VTE can complicate chemotherapy treatments, surgeries, and hospitalizations, thus further increasing morbidity and mortality. VTE is the second leading cause of death in cancer patients. An optimal anticoagulation strategy is necessary for patients with cancer associated thrombosis (CAT) with the goals of reducing recurrent thrombosis and minimizing bleeding risk. Although low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) are universally accepted, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have shown to significantly lower recurrent VTE risk and became in the last years an emerging new option for this condition.

Part of the book: Anticoagulation