Direct oral anticoagulants: integration into clinical practice.

The introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (OACs) for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic disease represents a shift from the traditional vitamin K antagonist-based therapies, which have been the mainstay of treatment for almost 60 years. A challenge for hospital formularies will be to manage the use of direct OACs from hospital to outpatient settings. Three direct OACs-apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban-are widely approved across different indications, with rivaroxaban approved across the widest breadth of indications. A fourth direct OAC, edoxaban, has also completed phase III trials. Implementation of these agents by physicians will require an understanding of the efficacy and safety profile of these drugs, as well as an awareness of renal function, comedication use, patient adherence and compliance. Optimal implementation of direct OACs in the hospital setting will provide improved patient outcomes when compared with traditional anticoagulants and will simplify the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic diseases.

Infective endocarditis with co-existent acalculous cholecystitis: a rare but important association.

The authors present the case of an otherwise healthy retired male who presented with a history of fevers, rigors and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Although haematological, biochemical and radiological investigations supported a diagnosis of acalculous cholecystitis, the underlying cause was not obviously apparent and the patient's clinical condition deteriorated rapidly over the course of a few hours despite appropriate medical treatment. Repeat clinical examination was consistent with acute pulmonary oedema in association with a new murmur throughout the whole of the cardiac cycle. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed the presence of severe aortic regurgitation, a presumptive diagnosis of infective endocarditis was made and medical therapy adjusted. Shortly after, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest and an attempt at resuscitation was unsuccessful. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of aortic valve cusp rupture secondary to bacterial endocarditis in addition to gallbladder appearances consistent with acute acalculous cholecystitis.