New oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis

Venous thromboembolism is a rising concern in Asia especially among patients after surgery where this complication is readily preventable. Despite the availability of several treatment options, the acceptance of prophylaxis and usage of these methods remain low. A possible explanation to this behavior is the limitations attached to the available treatment options: narrow therapeutic window of warfarin and parenteral administration of low molecular weight as well as unfractionated heparins. Newer agents have been researched and introduced to overcome these limitations in the hope of improving the adaptation towards post surgical thromboprophylaxis. Dabigatran and rivaroxaban are two such new agents that are promising in view of efficacy and ease of administration.