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Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
Unravelling the puzzle of antithrombotic therapies for complex percutaneous coronary intervention
Leonardo De Luca1, Marco Valgimigli2
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiosciences, A.O. San Camillo-Forlanini, Circonvallazione Gianicolense, 87, 00152 Roma, Italy.
Insights
Optimal antithrombotic strategies are crucial for patients undergoing complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This review examines recent evidence to define the best adjunctive antithrombotic regimens for complex PCI, aiming to reduce complications and improve outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has advanced significantly, leading to increased treatment of complex coronary lesions.
- Complex PCI is linked to higher procedural risks and adverse clinical events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss current evidence on antithrombotic therapies for patients undergoing complex PCI.
- To identify optimal adjunctive antithrombotic regimens in this high-risk population.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent studies and analyses.
- Appraisal of antithrombotic treatment strategies in the context of complex PCI.
Main Results:
- Complex PCI is associated with increased procedural complications and adverse outcomes.
- Optimal antithrombotic regimens for complex PCI require further definition based on emerging evidence.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests a need for tailored antithrombotic approaches in complex PCI.
- Further research is warranted to establish definitive guidelines for antithrombotic therapy in complex PCI settings.
Abstract:
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has remarkably evolved in the last decades. This has resulted in a larger number of patients treated with PCI, including those with more complex anatomic lesions. Several studies demonstrated that PCI involving complex lesions is associated with increased rate of procedural complications and adverse clinical outcomes. In this setting, optimal adjunctive antithrombotic regimens still need to be defined. In this review, we sought to summarize and discuss the recent evidence deriving from analyses appraising antithrombotic therapies in patients undergoing complex PCI.
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