Use Of Antithrombotic Agents Research Articles

Characteristics and Risk Factors for Postoperative Bleeding Following Endoscopic Resection of Esophageal Squamous Neoplasms.

Reports on postoperative bleeding after esophageal endoscopic resection are limited. This study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and risk factors for postoperative bleeding following endoscopic resection of esophageal neoplasms. This single-center, retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or squamous intraepithelial neoplasm between January 2018 and December 2022. We investigated the incidence, timing, severity, and risk factors for postoperative bleeding. Of 1288 patients, 1062 (82%) underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection, and 226 (18%) underwent endoscopic mucosal resection. Postoperative bleeding occurred in seven (0.5%) patients (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2-1.1%; median postoperative day 8 [range, 4-17 days]). In these seven patients, hemoglobin concentration decreased by a median of 3.0g/dL (range, 1.6-6.8g/dL). Antithrombotic agent use, resection wound circumference, and specimen size were significantly associated with postoperative bleeding (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, and P = 0.024, respectively). Among 43 patients who received direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), postoperative bleeding occurred in four (9%) patients (95% CI 2.6-22.1%). DOACs were significantly associated with postoperative bleeding even after propensity score matching (4/40 [10%] vs. 0/80 [0%], respectively; P = 0.011). The overall bleeding rate following esophageal endoscopic resection was 0.5%, with a delayed onset, leading to anemia. DOACs emerged as the most significant risk factor for postoperative bleeding.

Out-of-hospital onset versus in-hospital onset for clinical outcomes in spontaneous intramuscular hematoma diagnosed by computed tomography: a retrospective cohort study.

The aging global population and the increasing use of antithrombotic agents have made spontaneous intramuscular hematomas (SIH) a growing concern. The association between the settings of SIH onset and clinical outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine these associations. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Hiroshima, Japan between January 2008 and January 2022. We included consecutive patients aged ≥ 15years with SIH at any site diagnosed by computed tomography. The subjects were divided into two groups according to onset settings: out-of-hospital onset and in-hospital onset. The main outcome was treatment failure (composite of change in initial treatment and in-hospital death), and in-hospital mortality was also assessed. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to estimate the causal effects of onset settings on outcomes. Of 84 included subjects with SIH, 63 had out-of-hospital onset and 21 had in-hospital onset. One subject (1.6%) with out-of-hospital onset and four subjects (19%) with in-hospital onset experienced treatment failure. In the IPTW cohort, in-hospital onset was associated with treatment failure [odds ratio (OR) 29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.2-270]. In addition, one subject (1.6%) with out-of-hospital onset and three subjects (14%) with in-hospital onset died during hospitalization. In-hospital onset was associated with a high rate of in-hospital mortality (OR 25, 95% CI 6.3-240) in the IPTW cohort. SIH with in-hospital onset had a poorer prognosis than that of SIH with out-of-hospital onset, suggesting that onset setting might be a novel predictor of clinical outcomes for SIH.

Symptomatic patients without coronary artery disease do not have excess cardiovascular risk compared to the general population

Abstract Background Patients with stable angina with no coronary atherosclerosis by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) have a lower cardiovascular risk compared to CCTA patients with greater atherosclerotic burden. However, it remains unknown whether these symptomatic patients have excess cardiovascular risk when compared to the general population and if any excess risk is sex or age dependent. Purpose To examine the 10-year cardiovascular risk and mortality in patients with no coronary atherosclerosis by CCTA compared to a matched general population comparison cohort. Methods We included every symptomatic CCTA patient with no coronary artery disease (CAD), defined as no coronary plaques and Agatston calcium score of 0, in Western Denmark from 2008-2021. Each patient was matched by age and sex with 5 individuals with no previous history of ischemic heart disease from the Western Danish general population. Maximum follow-up was 10 years. Outcomes were myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and all-cause death. We estimated 10-year risk difference (RD) and incidence rate ratios (IRR) using a conditional Poisson regression, comparing patients with no CAD to the general population cohort. Additionally, we performed age- (&amp;lt;45 year, 45-65 years, and ≥65 years) and sex stratified analyses. Results We included 39,223 patients with no CAD who were matched with 196,115 individuals from the general population. Median age was 54 and 60% were women. Baseline use of anti-thrombotic agents, statins, and anti-hypertensive drugs was higher in patients with no CAD than the general population. Median follow-up was 6.1 years. CCTA patients with no CAD had lower risk of myocardial infarction [RD -0.2%, IRR 0.75 (95% CI 0.65-0.85)] and death [RD -3.3%, IRR 0.51 (95% CI 0.48-0.55)], but similar risk of ischemic stroke [RD 0.0%, IRR 0.93 (95% CI 0.84-1.02)] compared to the general population (Figure 1). However, patients &amp;lt;45 years had higher 10-year risk of both myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke despite absence of CAD by CCTA compared the general population (Figure 2). Conclusions Symptomatic patients without CAD by CCTA do not have excess cardiovascular risk when compared to a general population cohort without known ischemic heart disease. Future cardiovascular risk management of these patients should therefore follow primary prevention guidelines. However, patients &amp;lt;45 years did exhibit higher risk of ischemic outcomes and may require intensified preventative treatment.Figure 1Figure 2

Ranolazine therapy is associated with a reduced new diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in chronic coronary syndrome patients: the results of a real-world analysis of an Italian population

Abstract Background Ranolazine (Ran) is an anti-anginal drug acting as a late sodium current inhibitor at a cell membrane level. Some experimental and clinical studies showed an antihyperglycemic effect of the drug, possibly mediated by the increase of insulin secretion, the inhibition of glucagon release, and the protective action on beta-cell function. These effects, additive to the anti-anginal properties of Ran in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), could modulate and improve glucose metabolic balance. Indeed, data exploring at a population level the association of the drug with diabetes mellitus (DM) incidence are effectively lacking. Aims Aim of this study was to evaluate in CCS patients if the use of Ran, compared with other treatments (No-Ran), was associated with a lower incidence of DM in an Italian real-world clinical setting. Methods Patients included in the database of the National Health System were evaluated (N=6.1 million; about 10% of the Italian population); the recorded information concerned hospitalizations with the related diseases, clinical events, outpatient visits and drug therapy. Patients hospitalized for any cause and discharged with a diagnosis of angina between 2011 and 2020 (ICD-9-CM codes: 413-414) were included in the study after having proved the absence of DM in their medical history. Study population was divided into the Ran (at least one drug prescription) and in the No-Ran cohorts. The mean follow up was 4.3 years for the Ran and 5.0 years for the No-Ran cohorts, respectively. Results The study population included N=171,015 patients (mean age: 72 years, men: 66%). Among them, N=148,808 (No-Ran cohort) were treated with other therapies while N=22,207 (Ran cohort) received Ran. After propensity score matching, Ran (N=6,384) and No-Ran (N=25,536) cohorts did not differ for age, Charlson comorbidity index, use of aspirin and other antithrombotic agents, statins, beta-blockers, Ca-antagonists and nitrates. The incidence of a new diagnosis of DM during the follow-up period was 10.5 and 15.8% in the Ran and in the No-Ran cohorts, respectively (p&amp;lt;0.001). The Cox-regression analysis showed that Ran therapy was associated with a 30% risk reduction to present a new diagnosis of DM (HR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.64-0.76, p&amp;lt;0.001), independently of age, Charlson comorbidity index, heart failure, previous stroke, use of ivabradine, Ca-antagonists and nitrates. Conclusions This real-world study, performed in a whole subset of the Italian population, showed that, in the long-term, the incidence of a new DM diagnosis was lower in Ran users. This association could contribute to explain the benefits of the drug in patients with CCS.

Lack of Association of Chronological Age and Antithrombotic Agents With Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage in the Group of Older Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Some reports suggest that older patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are more likely to experience acute intracranial hemorrhage, resulting in poor outcomes. However, the association between precise chronological age and use of antithrombotic agents with acute intracranial hemorrhage in these patients remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with acute intracranial hemorrhage and poor outcomes in patients with TBI, including chronological age and use of antithrombotic agents. Patients hospitalized for TBI between January 2006 and December 2021 were included. Patients were categorized by age groups of <65 years, 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years, and ≥85 years. Associations between each age group and acute intracranial hemorrhage, a poor outcome at discharge, and in-hospital mortality were evaluated. The cohort included 1086 patients, with 713 (65.7%) in the ≥65 age group. Although chronological age was associated with acute intracranial hemorrhage in patients aged <65 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.03), it was not associated with patients aged ≥65 years. None of the antithrombotic agents investigated were associated with acute intracranial hemorrhage in the group aged ≥65 years. Although chronological age was associated with a poor outcome in patients aged <65 years (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.07), it was not associated in those aged ≥65 years. The ≥85 year age group (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.18-4.51) compared with <65 years were significantly associated with a poor outcome. None of the antithrombotic agents investigated were associated with a poor outcome in the group aged ≥65 years. Our findings confirmed the lack of an association of chronological age and antithrombotic agents with acute intracranial hemorrhage in the group of older adults with TBI. Our findings suggest that antithrombotic agents may be safely used, even in older adults.

Association between antithrombotic agents use and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a two-sample mendelian randomization analysis

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer worldwide. Multiple observational studies demonstrated a negative association between the use of antithrombotic agents and the risk of HCC. However, the precise causal relationship between these factors remains uncertain. Therefore, our study used a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal link between these two factors.MethodThe summary statistics of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the use of antithrombotic agents were acquired from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) performed on individuals of European descent. A two-sample MR analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighting (IVW), the weighted median estimate, the MR-Egger regression, and the weighted-mode estimate. Sensitivity analysis of the primary findings was performed using MR-PRESSO, MR-Egger regression, Cochran’s Q test, and Leave-one-out analysis.ResultsTen SNPs associated with the use of antithrombotic agents were selected as instrumental variables. The MR analysis performed using the four methods mentioned above revealed a negative causal association between the use of antithrombotic agents and HCC. Univariate MR estimates based on the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method suggested a negative causal association between the use of antithrombotic agents and HCC [odds ratio (OR) 0.444, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.279 to 0.707, P = 0.001]. The other methods also produced similar results. No heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy were found.ConclusionOur findings suggested an inverse causal association of antithrombotic agents with the risk of HCC.

The impact of anti-thrombotic therapy on bleeding outcomes and thrombosis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis.

Acute cholecyctitis is a common condition which requires immediate or elective surgical interventions and this condition is one among the common causes for emergency hospitalization among the elderly population. However, controversies have been observed with the use of anti-thrombotic agents in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecyctectomy. Few studies have reported increased risk of bleeding in patients with anticoagulants whereas other studies have reported no significant bleeding outcomes. Nevertheless, the lack of evidence-based guidelines further complicates decision-making. In this analysis we aimed to systematically assess the impact of anti-thrombotic therapy on bleeding outcomes and thrombosis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane database, Google scholar, Web of Science and http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for relevant publications based on anti-thrombotic therapy among patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The endpoints in this analysis included: intra-operative bleeding, post-operative bleeding, blood loss, patients requiring blood transfusion and thrombotic complications. The Revman 5.4 software was used to analyze data in this analysis. Risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to represent the data following analysis. A total number of 4008 participants (enrollment period 2002-2019) were included in this analysis whereby 756 participants were assigned to an anti-thrombotic therapy and 3592 participants were in the control group. Our results showed that antithrombotic therapy was associated with significantly higher risk of intra-operative bleeding (RR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.77-2.79; P = 0.00001), post-operative bleeding (RR: 4.77, 95% CI: 1.13-20.10; P = 0.03), and blood loss (RR: 3.01, 95% CI: 1.13-8.06; P = 0.03). Patients requiring blood transfusion (RR: 4.80, 95% CI: 1.90-12.13; P = 0.0009) were also significantly higher in the anti-thrombotic group. However, thrombotic complications (RR: 2.17, 95% CI: 0.50-9.42; P = 0.30) were not significantly higher. Through this analysis, we concluded that anti-thrombotic therapy was associated with significantly increased risks of intra-operative and post-operative bleeding events following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients requiring blood transfusion were also significantly higher. Therefore, stopping anti-thrombotic agents prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy could significantly minimize bleeding risks.

Antipsychotic medications and severe sepsis in schizophrenia: A nested case–control study

Background: Sepsis constitutes a condition that involves life-threatening organ dysfunction induced by severe infection. This nested case–control study investigated risk factors for severe sepsis and whether antipsychotic use is associated with severe sepsis risk in patients with schizophrenia, a topic that has not been comprehensively explored in previous studies. Methods: We selected 39,432 patients with schizophrenia aged between 15 and 65 years from Taiwan’s Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claims database for the period 2000–2012. The case group comprised patients with severe sepsis after their first psychiatric admission ( n = 1382). The case and control groups were randomly matched (1:4) by age, sex and first psychiatric admission (year) and finally comprised 1382 and 5528 individuals, respectively. We employed multivariable conditional logistic regression to identify (1) risk factors (physical illnesses and nonpsychiatric medications) and (2) antipsychotic–severe sepsis associations. Results: Higher numbers of psychiatric admissions and physical illnesses such as delirium, cerebrovascular disease and cancer were significantly associated with a higher risk of severe sepsis. Furthermore, severe sepsis was associated with the use of antithrombotic agents, systemic corticosteroids and agents targeting the renin–angiotensin system. Clozapine (adjusted risk ratio = 1.65) and quetiapine (adjusted risk ratio = 1.59) use were associated with an increased risk of severe sepsis. The use of more than one antipsychotic drug could further increase this risk. Conclusion: Several physical illnesses and nonpsychiatric medications increase the risk of severe sepsis in patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, clozapine or quetiapine use significantly increased the risk of severe sepsis in these patients.

Anticoagulation in Pediatric Patients

The use of antithrombotic agents is increasing in infants, children and adolescents. The more recent routine inclusion of children in FDA-monitored clinical trials has propelled the rapid accumulation of safety and efficacy data on these agents in pediatric patients. Antithrombotic agents in current use include indirect or antithrombin-dependent anticoagulants, intravenous direct thrombin inhibitors, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) targeting thrombin or factor Xa, antiplatelet agents and thrombolytic therapies. Each class of antithrombotic agent has distinct mechanisms of action, clearance routes, half-lives, safety and dosing. Anticoagulant efficacy is dependent upon the specific clinical indication and stability of the pediatric patient. Duration of anticoagulant course is also dependent upon the clinical indication as well as rate of thrombus resolution. This manuscript reviews the mechanism of action, route of administration, route of clearance and plasma half-life for the antithrombotic agents in current use in children. Use of anticoagulation in the context of thrombolytic therapy is discussed.

Optimal use of antithrombotic agents in recent small subcortical strokes accompanied by atrial fibrillation.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anticoagulants (AC) and antiplatelets (APT) in patients with recent small subcortical infarctions (RSSI) and atrial fibrillation (AF). We utilized a prospective multicenter stroke registry database to identify patients with RSSI with a concurrent diagnosis of AF. Propensity score matching analysis was used to balance baseline differences among the AC-only, APT-only, and their combination groups. The main outcomes of interest were time to occurrence of minor and major bleeding, stroke recurrence, and all-cause mortality. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each outcome were calculated using the multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Of the 404 eligible patients, 28.2% received APT only, 53.0% received AC only, and 18.9% received a combination of both. Notable differences were observed between these groups in terms of the 1-year stroke recurrence (APT, 32.5%; AC, 5.6%; APT + AC, 9.2%) and all-cause mortality (APT, 21.9%; AC, 6.1%; APT + AC, 14.5%), whereas the rates of bleeding events were comparable. The multivariable analysis indicated a significant association of AC alone with reduced risks of severe bleeding, stroke recurrence, and all-cause mortality compared with APT alone (aHR 0.64, 95% CI 0.41-0.98; aHR 0.11, 95% CI 0.06-0.22; aHR 0.22, 95% CI 0.11-0.44, respectively). The combination group showed a reduced risk of stroke recurrence compared to APT alone (aHR 0.19, 95% CI 0.08-0.46). These findings remained consistent with the propensity score-matched analysis. AC showed better clinical outcomes than APT in patients with RSSI and AF. Additionally, combination therapy with AC and APT was associated with a lower risk of stroke recurrence than APT alone.

Anticoagulant prophylaxis in patients with liver disease and atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in adults worldwide. The use of oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is an effective way to prevent ischemic stroke in patients with AF, reducing the risk of stroke by approximately 64 %. In patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), the presence of AF is associated with higher rates of in-hospital mortality, stroke and acute kidney injury compared with patients without arrhythmia. Liver disease and especially cirrhosis are associated with an increased risk of not only thrombosis but also bleeding, making the decision about anticoagulant therapy in these patients very difficult. The article reviews the current literature regarding the use of modern DOACs and traditional antithrombotic agents, such as vitamin K antagonists and heparins, in patients with cirrhosis and AF.

The current status of reversal therapy in Japan for elderly patients with head injury treated with antithrombotic agents: A prospective multicenter observational study

BackgroundAcute exacerbation of head injury in elderly patients due to use of antithrombotic agents has become a concern in countries with aging populations. Reversal agents are recommended for treatment, but its usage is unclear. Therefore, we conducted a prospective observational study in this patient population to monitor usage of reversal therapy. MethodsThe subjects were 721 elderly patients aged ≥65 years old who were hospitalized in 15 centers from December 2019 to May 2021. Patients were divided into groups who did not receive antithrombotic agents (Group A), who received antithrombotic agents, but did not receive reversal therapy (Group B), and were treated with antithrombotic agents and reversal therapy (Group C). Age, gender, mechanism of injury, neurologic and imaging findings on admission, clinical course after admission and surgery, outcomes and complications were compared among these groups. Time from injury to reversal therapy was examined based on outcomes to investigate trends in the timing of administration of the reversal agent. ResultsAcute exacerbation during the clinical course occurred in 9.8 %, 15.8 % and 31.0 % of cases in Groups A, B and C, respectively, and differed significantly among the groups. On head CT, the incidences of hematoma were 35.7 %, 36.5 % and 60.4 %, respectively, with this incidence being significantly higher in Group C; and the respective rates of craniotomy were 18.8 %, 14.0 % and 50.9 %, again with this rate being significantly higher in Group C. The good outcome and mortality rates were 57.1 %, 52.5 % and 35.8 %, and 14.5 %, 18.0 % and 24.5 %, respectively, and both were poorest in Group C. Times from injury to treatment with a reversal agent were significantly shorter in patients without compared to those with acute exacerbation (405.9 vs. 880.8 min) and in patients with favorable outcomes compared to those with unfavorable outcomes (261.9 vs. 543.4 min). ConclusionSimilarly to previous studies, the incidence of acute exacerbation was increased by use of antithrombotic agents. These results suggest that patients in Japan who require hematoma evacuation due to symptom exacerbation tend to be treated with reversal agents. Although it is difficult to assess the efficacy of reversal therapy from this study, earlier treatment with reversal agents before the occurrence of acute exacerbation may be useful to improve outcomes.

Thrombocytopenia - Is It an Impactful Prognostic Indicator in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis?

Background: Several prognostic scores have been developed to guide management strategies in cirrhotic patients. Child-Pugh and Model of End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) are the typical scores currently used to predict outcomes in cirrhosis, however both do not include platelet count. Although platelet count may provide clues regarding severity of the disease, there is scarcity of data supporting its utility as a prognostic factor in patients with cirrhosis. Hence our study aimed to investigate the association between thrombocytopenia and development of complications as well as mortality in cirrhotic patients. Methods: TheNational Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database was used to sample individuals with liver cirrhosis between 2016 and 2018. Baseline demographics and comorbidities were collected using ICD-10-DM codes. Patients younger than 18, those with missing data, and with history of thromboembolism were excluded. Study patients were then stratified into those with and without thrombocytopenia. Greedy propensity matching using R was performed to match the two cohorts in 1:1 ratio on age, gender, race, use of anti-thrombotic agents, smoking, and nine other comorbidities including diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, morbid obesity, chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease, chronic heart failure, history of cancer, and history of transient ischemic attack or stroke. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze outcomes. P-value of &amp;lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of a total of 402,104 cirrhotic patients, 129,461 had thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenic patients were younger, male pre-dominant, and healthier with lower prevalence of all comorbidities and anti-thrombotic use. Thrombocytopenic patients had statistically significant higher mortality (6.4% vs 5.6%), venous thromboembolism (1.6% vs 1.5%), variceal bleeding (6.9% vs 4.3%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (3.9% vs 3%), portal hypertension (35.8% vs 23.9%), hepatorenal syndrome (5.5% vs 3.8%), hyponatremia (23.7% vs 19%), jaundice (0.6% vs 0.4%) and abnormal coagulation profile (2.2% vs 1.6%). Multivariate logistic regression model after matching showed similar outcomes with thrombocytopenic patients having higher mortality (OR: 1.13 [1.09 - 1.18];p&amp;lt;0.001) and statistically significant higher rates of all other complications. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia was significantly associated with higher mortality and complications in liver cirrhosis. These findings highlight the importance of considering thrombocytopenia as a poor prognostic factor when evaluating patients with liver cirrhosis. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to corroborate these findings and explore the benefit of addition of platelet count to the current prognostic scores used in clinical practice to estimate outcomes in liver cirrhosis.

Antithrombotic Adherence to guideline-directed therapy and risk profile among Non-Valvular Atrial fibrillation patients

Introduction: Patients with Atrial fbrillation (AF) are at fivefold higher risk for Ischemic stroke than in the general population. Although the current therapeutic guidelines recommend the use of anticoagulants for thromboembolic prophylaxis in patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF) with additional risk factor(s) for stroke, the global registry data show non-adherence to guidelines for the management of stroke in diferent regions of the world. The current study conducted at the tertiary referral cardiac center of Nepal for addressing the risk profle of stroke based on the current risk scores and the use of antithrombotic agents NVAF patients. Methodology: This was a descriptive observational cross sectional study conducted at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre (SGNHC), Kathmandu, Nepal from December 2020 to June 2020 which included patients with Nonvalvular AF. The main objective of the study was to study the clinical characteristics, stroke risk profle based on CHA ₂DS₂-VaSc score and risk of bleeding based on HAS-BLED score and the patterns of use of antithrombotic agents in NVAF patients. Results: A total of 79 cases of NVAF were included with 48(60.8%) males and 31(39.2%) females. The mean CHA₂DS₂-VaSc and HAS-BLED score were 2.44±1.2 and 1.51±1.4 respectively. The majority patients 38% had permanent AF followed by 25.5% had paroxysmal AF. Majority of patients were symptomatic with 67.1% presented with palpitation while 32.9% presented with shortness of breath (SOB). Based on the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) AF related symptoms score, 41.8% had EHRA 2a and 2b while 1.3% had EHRA 4 score. The use of anticoagulants in patients with Nonvalvular AF was 41.6%, with NOACS in 33 % and warfarin used in 8.9% cases. The majority of patients 51.8% of study population were using anti-platelet agents with aspirin in 49.3 % and clopidogrel in 2.5 % cases while no medication in 6.3% of cases. Although 70.8% patients had CHA₂DS₂-VaSc score of 2 or more but the use of anticoagulants was only 58.9% with 46.4% NOACS and 12.5% using warfarin among this group of patients. Conclusion: Although the use of anticoagulant with NOACS in patients with higher risk of stroke is increasing, it is still underused in the majority of cases .There is a need of nationwide AF registry and the need of adoption of the current recommended guidelines to increase use of Anticoagulants in patients with Nonvalvular AF patients for the prevention of stroke .

Antiplatelet Agent Use After Stroke due to Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

This focused update about antiplatelet agents to reduce the high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events after stroke due to spontaneous (nontraumatic) intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) complements earlier updates about blood pressure-lowering, lipid-lowering, and oral anticoagulation or left atrial appendage occlusion for atrial fibrillation after ICH. When used for secondary prevention in people without ICH, antiplatelet agents reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular event (rate ratio, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.75-0.87]) and might increase the risk of ICH (rate ratio, 1.67 [95% CI, 0.97-2.90]). Before 2019, guidance for clinical decisions about antiplatelet agent use after ICH has focused on estimating patients' predicted absolute risks and severities of ischemic and hemorrhagic major adverse cardiovascular event and applying the known effects of these drugs in people without ICH to estimate whether individual ICH survivors in clinical practice might be helped or harmed by antiplatelet agents. In 2019, the main results of the RESTART (Restart or Stop Antithrombotics Randomized Trial) randomized controlled trial including 537 survivors of ICH associated with antithrombotic drug use showed, counterintuitively, that antiplatelet agents might not increase the risk of recurrent ICH compared to antiplatelet agent avoidance over 2 years of follow-up (12/268 [4%] versus 23/268 [9%]; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.25-1.03]; P=0.060). Guidelines in the United States, Canada, China, and the United Kingdom and Ireland have classified the level of evidence as B and indicated that antiplatelet agents may be considered/reasonable after ICH associated with antithrombotic agent use. Three subsequent clinical trials have recruited another 174 participants with ICH, but they will not be sufficient to determine the effects of antiplatelet therapy on all major adverse cardiovascular events reliably when pooled with RESTART. Therefore, ASPIRING (Antiplatelet Secondary Prevention International Randomized Study After Intracerebral Hemorrhage) aims to recruit 4148 ICH survivors to determine the effects of antiplatelet agents after ICH definitively overall and in subgroups.

A national clinician survey on the British Society for Dermatological Surgery guidelines on antithrombotic agent use in skin surgery.

Antithrombotic medication is taken by 14-22% patients undergoing skin surgery, with more patients now taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The latest evidence suggests that the risk of stopping DOACs perioperatively is low in skin surgery, particularly for primary closures, but remains unclear for more complex procedures. The 2016 British Society for Dermatological Surgery (BSDS) guidelines suggest that clinicians could consider stopping DOACs in patients for 24-48 h, based on individual bleeding risk. We surveyed BSDS members to better understand clinical practice and guideline adherence with a view to updating the guidance. The results demonstrated that there is consistency among clinicians in the management of patients on more established antithrombotic agents, such as aspirin, clopidogrel and warfarin. However, there is a higher perceived risk of significant haematomas following higher-risk procedures such as larger flaps or grafts with DOACs vs. other antithrombotics postoperatively. Stopping DOACs perioperatively for 24-48 h for higher-risk procedures can be cautiously considered following an individual risk assessment and informed discussion with the patient.

LONG-HOSP Score: A Novel Predictive Score for Length of Hospital Stay in Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding – A Multicenter Nationwide Study

Introduction: Length of stay (LOS) in hospital affects cost, patient quality of life, and hospital management; however, existing gastrointestinal bleeding models applicable at hospital admission have not focused on LOS. We aimed to construct a predictive model for LOS in acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (ALGIB). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 8,547 patients emergently hospitalized for ALGIB at 49 hospitals (the CODE BLUE-J Study). A predictive model for prolonged hospital stay was developed using the baseline characteristics of 7,107 patients and externally validated in 1,440 patients. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis assessed the impact of additional variables during hospitalization on LOS. Results: Focusing on baseline characteristics, a predictive model for prolonged hospital stay was developed, the LONG-HOSP score, which consisted of low body mass index, laboratory data, old age, nondrinker status, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, facility with ≥800 beds, heart rate, oral antithrombotic agent use, symptoms, systolic blood pressure, performance status, and past medical history. The score showed relatively high performance in predicting prolonged hospital stay and high hospitalization costs (area under the curve: 0.70 and 0.73 for derivation, respectively, and 0.66 and 0.71 for external validation, respectively). Next, we focused on in-hospital management. Diagnosis of colitis or colorectal cancer, rebleeding, and the need for blood transfusion, interventional radiology, and surgery prolonged LOS, regardless of the LONG-HOSP score. By contrast, early colonoscopy and endoscopic treatment shortened LOS. Conclusions: At hospital admission for ALGIB, our novel predictive model stratified patients by their risk of prolonged hospital stay. During hospitalization, early colonoscopy and endoscopic treatment shortened LOS.

Beyin Cerrahları ve Ortopedistlerin Spinal Patolojilerde Cerrahi Sonrası Gelişmiş İyileşme (ERAS) Protokolüne Yaklaşımları: Tek Merkez, Anket Çalışması

Objective: The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol defines multimodal interventions applied to patients during the postoperative period to enable them to return to their normal life functions as quickly as possible. It encompasses the perioperative process from the patient’s hospital admission to discharge. The aim of our study is to observe the approaches of neurosurgeons and orthopedists at our center regarding the ERAS protocol in spinal pathologies and create awareness to ensure the routine implementation of ERAS. Methods: The survey, organized according to the items of the ERAS protocol for spinal surgeries, was delivered to the participants in person or via email after obtaining approval from the local ethics committee. The survey consisted of questions aimed at investigating the approaches of surgeons regarding fundamental aspects such as anesthesia, analgesia, surgical approach, fasting-nutrition, and early mobilization during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods of spinal surgery. Results: The survey was completed by 53 doctors, with 22 (41.5%) being neurosurgeons and 31 (58.5%) orthopedists. When evaluating the responses of the participants to the questions related to the preoperative period, it was found that patient education, blood glucose regulation for diabetic patients, preoperative skin preparation, and the use of prophylactic antibiotics and antithrombotic agents were all implemented at a rate of 100%. Regarding the choice of anesthesia method, it is noteworthy that 38.7% of orthopedists preferred regional anesthesia, while 59% of neurosurgeons opted for general anesthesia. In terms of postoperative care, the surgical teams showed a preference for removing surgical drains and urinary catheters on the first day after the surgery. As for early mobilization, 87.1% of orthopedists preferred the first postoperative day, whereas 72.7% of neurosurgeons chose the day of surgery for mobilization. Conclusion: The clinics that participated in the survey demonstrated practices that were either closely aligned or suitable to the elements constituting the ERAS protocol, even if these practices were not explicitly categorized under the ERAS heading. To ensure the widespread and accurate adoption of ERAS protocols in clinical settings, it is essential to provide the surgical teams with adequate information and encourage them to utilize ERAS principles. Keywords: Enhanced recovery after surgery, spinal procedures, orthopedic surgeon, neurosurgeon

Variability of response on prophylactic prasugrel for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms: Clinical implications.

Prophylactic prasugrel for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms has been introduced and increased, but HTPR (high on-treatment platelet reactivity) or LTPR (low on-treatment platelet reactivity) of prasugrel is not uncommon in clinical circumstances. To investigate the predisposing factors of HTPR and LTPR on prasugrel premedication in the neurointerventional field and to determine its clinical implications. Between February 2016 and December 2020, 191 patients treated with coil embolization using prophylactic prasugrel in 234 intracranial aneurysms were the final candidates for this study. Patient and aneurysm characteristics, clinical status, and laboratory study values were carefully reviewed retrospectively. We performed risk factor analyses for HTPR and LTPR on prasugrel. Ultimately, 20 patients (10.5%) had HTPR, and 74 patients (38.7%) were categorized as having LTPR. In multivariable analyses, the factors related to HTPR were BMI (adjusted OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.41, p = 0.01), history of antithrombotics (adjusted OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.39-10.34, p = 0.01), and hematocrit (adjusted OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.99, p = 0.03). Low BMI was the only risk factor for LTPR (adjusted OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.76-0.94, p = 0.001). In the neurointerventional field, high BMI and prior use of antithrombotic agents were related to HTPR, and low BMI was associated with LTPR on prophylactic prasugrel. High hematocrit levels decreased the risk of HTPR. When preparing endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms, attention to patients with these clinical features is required to address the possibility of ischemic or bleeding complications.

Stratification of Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Multiple Myeloma and Analysis of the Use of Antithrombotic Agents

Stratification of Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Multiple Myeloma and Analysis of the Use of Antithrombotic Agents