An increasing number of people are taking anticoagulants for the prophylaxis of thromboembolic disease. This may cause problems when they attend hospital following trauma. Patients may also develop spontaneous bleeding that may have similar effects to bleeding after an injury.
This article discusses the risks of bleeding (especially in head injury); the risks of stopping anticoagulation; how anticoagulation should be reversed and how anticoagulation should affect the approach to the head-injured patient.
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