Outpatient management of anticoagulation.

The Anticoagulation Service insures uniformity of approach to the regulation of anticoagulation for patients of hospital-based primary physicians. There has been no anticoagulant-related mortality in 254 patient treatment-years, and the major complication rate is 4% of treatment courses. There is a relatively low complication rate because of the systematic approach to anticoagulation therapy, recognition of the importance of patient education, communication with the primary physician, and flexibility of drug dosage and patient visit regimens. Achieving the therapeutic range of the prothrombin time with minimum complications is the goal of this Service. The hallmark of adequate control is predictable response of the prothrombin time to adjustments in drug dosage. Statistical analysis of six years' experience has provided support for the thesis that control of anticoagulation and incidence of complications are not significantly altered by patient age, sex, or the presence of concurrent nonthromboembolic medical illness.