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The recommended tactics for prevention of thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation (AF) is the oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment. The drugs of choice for preventing stroke for most patients with AF, excluding some valvular defects, are direct OACs (DOACS). Regardless of the drug class, all anticoagulants, even at appropriate doses, increase the risk of bleeding. However, the development of minor bleedings is not an absolute indication for DOAC withdrawal. This review presents a tactics for management of patients with minor bleeding associated with the DOAC treatment.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) - direct oral anticoagulants - are getting the ever-broadening use in clinical practice. However, many problems related to optimal use of NOACs in specific clinical situations remain unresolved. European Heart Rhythm Association in April 2018 issued the renovated recommendations on the use of NOACs in patients with atrial fibrillation. The authors of recommendations presented some specific clinical variants for which they formulated practical advices based on the evidence obtained in randomized clinical trials. They also outlined the indications for use of NOACs, formulated practical start-program and scheme of subsequent follow-up management of patients taking NOACs. Recommendations contain information on pharmacokinetics of NOACs and their interactions with other drugs, consideration of feasibility of NOACs use in patients with chronic renal insufficiency or advanced liver disease. Many other practical problems are covered as well.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NОАСs) are highly effective drugs that prevent venous thrombosis and stroke in atrial fibrillation. Their use has difficulties that are associated with the need for laboratory control and with the influence of many factors on the activity of these medications. The emerged direct oral anticoagulants have some advantages over NOACs. Nevertheless, there are a number of pathological conditions, in which NOACs remain first-line drugs. These include prosthetic mechanical heart valves, a glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, and left atrial thrombus.