At the present time (September 2014, Figure 22), 3 of the NOACs – the DTI dabigatran and the factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban and apixaban – have been approved in the United States for the treatment of DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE). The other factor Xa inhibitor, edoxaban, is pending approval for these indications.  For physicians and patients this means that the options for oral anticoagulation for these conditions - without warfarin - have really increased.  Exactly how the clinician should tackle the patient with AFib or with DVT or PE has become much more complex, but at the same time this greater complexity gives us as clinicians an opportunity to greatly improve the care of our patients with conditions that warrant anticoagulation.

Thank you very much for your attention.  I hope this discussion of anticoagulation for AFib-related disorders was interesting and useful to you.