Antithrombotic Therapy for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Electrophysiological and Interventional Procedures: JACC

Luigi Di Biase1, Dhanunjaya J Lakkireddy2, Jacopo Marazzato1

  • 1Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Montefiore-Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.

Insights

Managing antithrombotic therapy in cardiac procedures is complex, especially for older adults. This review offers practical guidance on balancing stroke prevention with bleeding risk in electrophysiology and interventional cardiology.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases are often managed with electrophysiological and interventional procedures.
  • Antithrombotic therapies are crucial for preventing thromboembolic events but increase bleeding risk.
  • The aging population and combined antithrombotic regimens exacerbate hemorrhagic risks in cardiac procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a practical, evidence-based summary of antithrombotic strategies for cardiac procedures.
  • To clarify the complex landscape of antithrombotic guidelines for clinicians.
  • To guide the selection of appropriate timing, dosage, and combinations of antithrombotic therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current society guidelines and consensus documents on antithrombotic therapy.
  • Evidence-based synthesis of antithrombotic approaches in cardiac electrophysiology and interventional procedures.
  • Focus on practical application for everyday clinical decision-making.

Main Results:

  • Antithrombotic therapy selection requires careful consideration of individual patient factors and procedural risks.
  • Current guidelines present a complex, sometimes conflicting, approach to antithrombotic management.
  • A unified, practical summary is needed to navigate these complexities.

Conclusions:

  • This review aims to simplify antithrombotic decision-making in cardiac procedures.
  • Optimizing antithrombotic therapy is essential for minimizing morbidity and mortality.
  • Clinicians need clear, concise guidance for managing antithrombotic therapy in diverse patient populations.

Related Concept Videos

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
702
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors01:20

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
526
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
1.2K
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
1.4K
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography01:17

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography

Cardiac imaging studies encompass a wide range of noninvasive and minimally invasive techniques designed to visualize the heart's structure and function in detail. One such technique is echocardiography, which uses high-frequency ultrasound waves to produce detailed images of the heart, known as echocardiograms.
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
335
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which...
746