Apixaban vs Rivaroxaban: Which Bleeds Less? | TWPCCM

Apixaban or rivaroxaban — do they really have the same bleeding risk? A new randomized trial directly compared these two widely used DOACs for the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism, and the results may challenge how many clinicians think about anticoagulant selection. In this episode of This Week in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, we review three recent studies with direct relevance to pulmonary and critical care practice. First, we examine a randomized trial comparing apixaban and rivaroxaban, focusing on differences in clinically relevant bleeding. Next, we discuss an ICU study evaluating continuous high-frequency oscillation therapy for lung aeration in mechanically ventilated patients with impaired consciousness. Finally, we shift into teaching mode and review the cardiopulmonary physiology of mitral valve disease, including how elevated left atrial pressure leads to pulmonary venous hypertension and ultimately Group 2 pulmonary hypertension. These discussions focus on practical clinical interpretation and physiologic reasoning for pulmonologists, intensivists, fellows, and trainees. Studies discussed • Apixaban vs Rivaroxaban randomized trial for VTE https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056... • Continuous high-frequency oscillation therapy in ventilated ICU patients https://journal.chestnet.org/article/... • Mitral valve disease and pulmonary physiology https://journal.chestnet.org/article/... Subscribe for weekly updates