Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Aug 2015
ReviewNovel oral anticoagulants in patients undergoing cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.
Recent trials on novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) in patients undergoing cardioversion showed that NOACs are as safe and effective as treatment with vitamin K antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing electric or pharmacological cardioversion. We conducted an EMBASE and MEDLINE search for studies in which patients undergoing cardioversion were assigned to treatment with NOACs versus VKAs. ⋯ NOACs and VKAs had comparable effects on the rates of stroke/thromboembolism, major bleeding events and all-cause mortality. NOACs are safe and effective alternatives to VKA in patients with AF undergoing cardioversion.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jul 2015
Observational StudyRole of thromboelastography and rapid thromboelastography to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of vitamin K antagonists.
Thromboelastography (TEG) measures the effects of antithrombotic agents by assessing global functional clotting status by evaluating the viscoelastic properties of in vitro clot formation. Recently, rapid TEG (r-TEG), which uses tissue factor in addition to standard kaolin to accelerate activation of the clotting cascade, has been proposed to obtain more immediate results. The correlation between results of TEG or r-TEG with international normalized ratio (INR) in patients on vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy has not been explored and represents the aim of this study. ⋯ Results were obtained in 24 ± 6 versus 12 ± 4 min with TEG and r-TEG, respectively (p < 0.001). In patients on chronic VKA therapy, TEG is not a useful tool to evaluate VKA anticoagulant effect, compared with standard INR measurements. However, r-TEG parameters of thrombus generation correlate with INR levels, suggesting a possible role of this assay for measuring more expeditiously anticoagulant treatment effects.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jul 2015
Outpatient or inpatient treatment for acute pulmonary embolism: a retrospective cohort study of 439 consecutive patients.
Current guidelines consider outpatient treatment as an option for low-risk pulmonary embolism (PE), and risk assessment tools such as the HESTIA criteria can be used to identify PE patients who could feasibly be treated in an outpatient setting. Little is known about what proportion of patients in daily care this would comprise, and, in these patients, outcome data outside of clinical trials are scarce. To assess the proportion of PE patients receiving outpatient early discharge or in-hospital therapy, evaluate differences in patient characteristics between these subgroups and to assess clinical outcomes at 6 months. ⋯ Independent risk factors were thrombophilia (OR: 8.43), signs of right ventricular strain in baseline ECG (OR: 6.64) or echocardiography (RVESP > 40 mmHg OR: 2.99). 32 % of the OP or ED patients had at least one criterion of the HESTIA score that would have excluded them from outpatient treatment. In daily care, treating PE in an almost exclusively outpatient setting seems feasible and safe for up to 25 % of all PE patients. The HESTIA criteria seem to exclude up to 30 % of patients for whom outpatient or early-discharge treatment seems feasible and safe.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · May 2015
Multicenter StudyManagement of new oral anticoagulants related life threatening or major bleedings in real life: a brief report.
Although new oral anticoagulants (NOAs) have been marketed in many countries, concern exists about the management of bleedings related to these drugs due to the lack of specific antidotes. The aim of our study was to report on real life management of NOAs-related life-threatening or major bleedings. We report data from consecutive cases of NOAs related major bleedings admitted to 4 hospitals since NOAs became marketed in Italy. ⋯ All patients were discharged alive and NOAs were discontinued. In NOAs related major gastro-intestinal bleeding general supportive measures seem to be effective for the majority of patients. Despite promoting bleeding cessation, 4-factor PCC does not reverse abnormal coagulation parameters.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · May 2015
ReviewAntithrombotic therapy before, during and after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been emerged as a promising alternative for the management of patients with severe AS who otherwise are deemed inappropriate candidates for surgery. Post procedural thromboembolic events and risk of bleeding continue to be a significant challenge in managing patients who underwent TAVR. This article systematically reviews the evidence, current guidelines and upcoming studies investigating antithrombotic therapy before, during and after TAVR.