CME 17/12/15 – Idarucizumab for dabigatran reversal: Clinical in-service

Here is the information contained in the clinical in-service run by Martin Rees (Boehringer Ingelheim) to educate staff prior to allowing the hospital access to Idarucizumab for dabigatran reversal.

This agent should be available from early next year. The protocol for it’s use is still currently under development by the Haematology department, and a link to this will be placed on the website when available. Essentially, Idarucizumab use will require Haematology approval and will be restricted to “patients treated with dabigatran when rapid reversal of the anticoagulant effects of dabigatran is required”:

• life threatening or uncontrolled bleeding, or
• those requiring emergency surgery / urgent procedures

This agent is not currently registered with the TGA and is being supplied under the Special Access Scheme, with the associated documentation that needs to be filled out to allow resupply. All this documentation will be contained within the pack containing the agent and must be filled out if used. Access to the agent, that will stored within the ED, will be via the nursing shift coordinator or ED pharmacist.