Bridge therapy
Bridge Therapy
Bridge therapy (pronunciation: /brɪdʒ θɛrəpi/) is a medical treatment strategy often used in patients who are on long-term anticoagulation therapy, such as warfarin, and require an invasive procedure. The term "bridge" refers to the temporary use of short-acting anticoagulants, like low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), to 'bridge' the period before and after the procedure when warfarin is stopped due to its long half-life.
Etymology
The term "bridge therapy" is derived from the concept of creating a 'bridge' or a temporary pathway to ensure continuous anticoagulation in patients who are at high risk of thromboembolic events.
Procedure
Bridge therapy involves the discontinuation of warfarin several days before an invasive procedure to allow the INR (International Normalized Ratio) to return to a normal range. This is followed by the administration of a short-acting anticoagulant, such as LMWH, which can be stopped a few hours before the procedure and restarted soon after, ensuring minimal interruption of anticoagulation.
Related Terms
- Anticoagulation
- Warfarin
- Low molecular weight heparin
- Thromboembolic events
- International Normalized Ratio
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bridge therapy
- Wikipedia's article - Bridge therapy
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