Ruben D. Acosta, MD, from the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virgina, USA, discusses this update to an ASGE document, “The management of antithrombotic agents for patients undergoing GI endoscopy.”

The focus of this guideline is the safe and effective use of antithrombotic medications, to include antiplatelets and anticoagulants, in the periendoscopic period.

This guideline includes new sections that address the recent emergence of the novel oral anticoagulants (such as apixaban and rivaroxaban) in addition to new data from the BRIDGE investigators that better defines the role of periprocedural heparin bridging.

This guideline aims to provide endoscopists with the most up-to-date and comprehensive guidance with regard to the entire spectrum of antithrombotic agents. It provides a framework for making decisions as to whether to hold or continue specific agents around the time of endoscopy. It also provides guidance on how to safely stop and restart these agents.

The tables provide useful and quick reference material that are designed to be used by practicing endoscopists in everyday situations.

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