Thromboelastography 6s for assessment of platelet function during coil embolization of unruptured intracranial...

Methods for assessing platelet function in patients with neurovascular disease remain controversial and poorly studied. This study aimed to assess associations between thromboelastography 6s (TEG6s) measurements and postoperative ischemic complications in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) treated by coil embolization.

Eighty-four patients with UIAs taking a combined aspirin and clopidogrel protocol were retrospectively reviewed from January 2021 to May 2022. Blood samples were obtained for TEG6s to assess platelet function on the day of coil embolization. To identify acute ischemic complications, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed within 24 h after coil embolization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify potential risk factors for postoperative positive DWI (DWI (+)) lesions.

Forty-three of the 84 patients (51%) with DWI (+) lesions were identified. Compared with patients without DWI (+) lesions, Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (MA_ADP) was significantly higher (53.6 mm [Interquartile range (IQR): 48.3-58.3 mm] vs 46.7 mm [IQR: 36.8-52.2 mm]; p=0.001) and ADP inhibition rate (ADP%) was significantly lower (19% [IQR: 11-31%] vs 31% [IQR: 21-44%]; p=0.001) in DWI (+) patients. Multivariate analysis identified MA_ADP, ADP%, and procedure time as significant independent predictors of subsequent DWI (+) lesions (odds ratios: 1.07, 0.96, and 1.02, respectively). Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, MA_ADP >50.9 mm and ADP% <28.8% were associated with postoperative DWI (+) lesions in patients undergoing coil embolization for UIAs.

MA_ADP and ADP% as assessed by TEG6s can offer reliable parameters to predict postoperative ischemic complications after coil embolization of UIAs. Lower MA_ADP values and higher ADP% may decrease the risk of postoperative ischemic complications.