anticoagulant therapy

anticoagulant therapy

Etymology: Gk, anti + L, coagulare, to curdle; Gk, therapeia

the therapeutic use of anticoagulants to discourage the formation of blood clots. Its main purpose is preventive; however, the thrombolytic action of an anticoagulant can destroy a clot and thereby improve the condition of the ischemic tissue supplied by the affected vessel. Conditions in which this therapy is used include occlusive vascular disease, such as coronary occlusion, cerebrovascular thrombosis, phlebothrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. It is administered prophylactically when major surgery is planned for a patient with a history of arterial stasis and for patients who must be immobilized for a long time.

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therapy

the treatment of disease; therapeutics. See also treatment.

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animal-assisted therapy

the treatment of humans, usually for mental or psychological illness, which incorporates familiarization with a companion or pleasure animal. Called also pet-facilitated or pet-assisted therapy. See also animal facilitated therapy.

anticoagulant therapy

the use of drugs to render the blood sufficiently incoagulable to discourage thrombosis.

heat therapy

see hyperthermia (2).

immunosuppressive therapy

treatment with agents, such as x-rays, corticosteroids and cytotoxic chemicals, which suppress the immune response to antigen(s); used in organ transplantation, autoimmune disease, allergy, multiple myeloma, etc.

inhalation therapy

see aerosol.

neoadjuvant therapy

given before the primary treatment, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy.

oxygen therapy

the administration of supplemental oxygen to relieve hypoxemia and prevent damage to the tissue cells as a result of oxygen lack (hypoxia). See also oxygen therapy.

physical therapy

use of physical agents and methods in rehabilitation and restoration of normal bodily function after illness or injury; it includes massage and manipulation, therapeutic exercises, hydrotherapy, and various forms of energy (electrotherapy, actinotherapy and ultrasound). See also physical therapist.

radiation therapy

treatment of disease by means of ionizing radiation. See also radiotherapy.

replacement therapy

treatment to replace deficient formation or loss of body products by administration of the natural body products or synthetic substitutes.

serum therapy

serotherapy; treatment of disease by injection of serum from immune animals.

substitution therapy

the administration of a hormone to compensate for glandular deficiency.

vaporization therapy

see aerosol.

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anticoagulant therapy

Hematology The use of anticoagulants to prevent intravascular clot formation, or dissolve clots that have already formed Indications DVT/thrombophlebitis, CAD, TIA/stroke, dysrhythmia, prosthetic heart valve, cancer Monitoring Serial measurement of PT, PTT. See Heparin, tPA, Warfarin.