Management of an acute cerebral embolic infarct with thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in the presence of an aortic arch floating thrombus

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e238707
Author(s):  
Yagazie Zina Udeaja ◽  
Kasim Ahmed ◽  
Ghalib Choudhury ◽  
Lakshmanan Sekaran

An aortic arch floating thrombus is a rare cause of embolic ischaemic cerebral infarction. Previously, thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy has been used to treat acute cerebral infarction in this context; however, combination therapy using both modalities is yet to be published. The optimal management of aortic arch floating thrombi is debated. Endovascular removal, thrombolysis, vitamin K antagonists and recently, direct oral anticoagulants have been utilised to treat aortic arch floating thrombi. Herein, we highlight the case of a patient presenting with dense hemiparesis, dysphasia and chest pain. CT imaging revealed a left middle cerebral artery thrombus and concurrent aortic arch floating thrombus. He was successfully treated with acute thrombolysis and subsequent mechanical thrombectomy of the cerebral thrombus resulting in resolution of his neurological symptoms. Repeat imaging demonstrated persistence of the aortic arch floating thrombus despite thrombolysis. The aortic arch floating thrombus was managed successfully with direct oral anticoagulant therapy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianni Turcato ◽  
Arian Zaboli ◽  
Andrea Tenci ◽  
Giorgio Ricci ◽  
Massimo Zannoni ◽  
...  

Closed chest traumas are frequent consequences of falls in the elderly. The presence of concomitant oral anticoagulant therapy can increase the risk of post-traumatic bleeding even in cases of trauma with non-severe dynamics. There is limited information about the differences between vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants in the risk of post-traumatic bleeding. To assess differences in the risk of developing intra-thoracic hemorrhages after chest trauma with at least one rib fracture caused by an accidental fall in patients over 75 years of age taking oral anticoagulant therapy. This study involved data from four emergency departments over two years. All patients on oral anticoagulant therapy and over 75 years of age who reported a closed thoracic trauma with at least one rib fracture were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two study groups according their anticoagulant therapy. Of the 342 patients included in the study, 38.9% (133/342) were treated with direct oral anticoagulants and 61.1% (209/342) were treated with vitamin K antagonist. A total of 7% (24/342) of patients presented intrathoracic bleeding, while 5% (17/342) required surgery or died as a result for the trauma. Posttraumatic intrathoracic bleeding occurred in 4.5% (6/133) of patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants and 8.6% (18/209) of patients receiving vitamin K antagonist. Logistic regression analysis, revealed no difference in the risk of intrathoracic haemorrhages between the two studied groups. Direct oral anticoagulants therapy presents a risk of post-traumatic intrathoracic haemorrhage comparable to that of vitamin K antagonist therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 834-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Zapata-Wainberg ◽  
Álvaro Ximénez-Carrillo ◽  
Santiago Trillo ◽  
Blanca Fuentes ◽  
Antonio Cruz-Culebras ◽  
...  

Background and purposeTo investigate the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke according to the oral anticoagulation medication taken at the time of stroke onset.Materials and methodsA retrospective multicenter study of prospectively collected data based on data from the registry the Madrid Stroke Network was performed. We included consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with mechanical thrombectomy and compared the frequency of intracranial hemorrhage and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months according to anticoagulation status.ResultsThe study population comprised 502 patients, of whom 389 (77.5%) were not anticoagulated, 104 (20.7%) were taking vitamin K antagonists, and 9 (1.8%) were taking direct oral anticoagulants. Intravenous thrombolysis had been performed in 59.8% and 15.0% of non-anticoagulated and anticoagulated patients, respectively. Rates of intracranial hemorrhage after treatment were similar between non-anticoagulated and anticoagulated patients, as were rates of recanalization. After 3 months of follow-up, the mRS score was ≤2 in 56.3% and 55.7% of non-anticoagulated and anticoagulated patients, respectively (P=NS). Mortality rates were similar in the two groups (13.1%and12.4%, respectively). Among anticoagulated patients, no differences were found for intracranial bleeding, mRS score, or mortality rates between patients taking vitamin K antagonists and those taking direct oral anticoagulants.ConclusionsMechanical thrombectomy is feasible in anticoagulated patients with acute ischemic stroke. The outcomes and safety profile are similar to those of patients with no prior anticoagulation therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 771-778
Author(s):  
O. V. Averkov ◽  
L. N. Mishchenko

Oral anticoagulant therapy is widely used in different patients for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic events: in atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, acute coronary syndrome, in the early postoperative period after orthopedic surgery. Nowadays it is possible to use vitamin K antagonists (warfarin) as well as direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC): dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban. The mai complication of any anticoagulant therapy is bleeding (gastrointestinal, intracranial, etc.), which seriously limits its usage. In this review the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) associated with oral anticoagulants intake was analyzed according to the results of both large randomized and postregistration trials. Furthermore, the effect of age on the risk of GIB development is discussed, and also aspects of the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal mucosa lesions in patients taking DOAC are considered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chikako Ishii ◽  
Miki Komatsu ◽  
Kota Suda ◽  
Masahiko Takahata ◽  
Satoko Matsumoto Harmon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are commonly observed in elderly people and can be treated by conservatively with minimal risk of complications in most cases. However, utilization of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) increases the risks of secondary hematoma even after insignificant trauma. The use of DOACs increased over the past decade because of their approval and recommendation for both stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation and treatment of venous thromboembolism. It is well known that DOACs are safer anticoagulants than warfarin in terms of major and nonmajor bleeding; however, we noted an increase in the number of bleeding events associated with DOACs that required medical intervention. This report describes the first case of delayed lumbar plexus palsy due to DOAC-associated psoas hematoma after VCF to draw attention to potential risk of severe complication associated with this type of common and stable trauma. Case presentation An 83-year-old man presented with his left inguinal pain and inability to ambulate after falling from standing position and was prescribed DOACs for chronic atrial fibrillation. Computed tomography angiography revealed a giant psoas hematoma arising from the ruptured segmental artery running around fractured L4 vertebra. Because of motor weakness of his lower limbs and expansion of psoas hematoma revealed by contrast computed tomography on day 8 of his hospital stay, angiography aimed for transcatheter arterial embolization was tried, but could not demonstrate any major active extravasation; therefore spontaneous hemostasis was expected with heparin replacement. On day 23 of his stay, hematoma turned to decrease, but dysarthria and motor weakness due to left side cerebral infarction occurred. His pain improved and bone healing was achieved about 2 months later from his admission, however the paralysis of the left lower limb and aftereffects of cerebral infarction remained after 1 year. Conclusion In patients using DOACs with multiple risk factors, close attention must be taken in vertebral injury even if the fracture itself is a stable-type such as VCF, because segmental artery injury may cause massive psoas hematoma followed by lumbar plexus palsy and other complications.


Applied Nano ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-117
Author(s):  
Yuri B. G. Patriota ◽  
Luíse L. Chaves ◽  
Evren H. Gocke ◽  
Patricia Severino ◽  
Mônica F. R. Soares ◽  
...  

Heparin-based delivery systems have been explored to improve their therapeutic efficacy and to reduce toxicity for different administration routes. Regardless of the applied drug delivery system (DDS), the evaluation of anticoagulant performance is instrumental for the development of a suitable DDS. The understanding of the range of anticoagulant assays, together with their key applications and limitations, is essential both within the context of scientific research and for clinical usage. This review provides an overview of the current anticoagulant therapy and discusses the advantages and limitations of currently available anticoagulant assays. We also discuss studies involving low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH)-based nanocarriers with emphasis on their anticoagulation performance. Conventional anticoagulants have been used for decades for the treatment of many diseases. Direct oral anticoagulants have overcome some limitations of heparins and vitamin K antagonists. However, the lack of an accurate laboratory assessment, as well as the lack of a factor “xaban” (Xa) inhibitor reversal agent, remains a major problem associated with these anticoagulants. LMWHs represent anticoagulant agents with noteworthy efficacy and safety, and they have been explored to improve their outcomes with various nanocarriers through several administration routes. The main problems related to LMWHs have been surmounted, and improved efficiency may be achieved through the use of DDSs.


Author(s):  
Martin Müller ◽  
Ioannis Chanias ◽  
Michael Nagler ◽  
Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos ◽  
Thomas C. Sauter

Abstract Background Falls from standing are common in the elderly and are associated with a significant risk of bleeding. We have compared the proportional incidence of bleeding complications in patients on either direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Methods Our retrospective cohort study compared elderly patients (≥65 years) on DOAC or VKA oral anticoagulation who presented at the study site – a Swiss university emergency department (ED) – between 01.06.2012 and 01.07.2017 after a fall. The outcomes were the proportional incidence of any bleeding complication and its components (e.g. intracranial haemorrhage), as well as procedural and clinical parameters (length of hospital stay, admission to intensive care unit, in-hospital-mortality). Uni- and multivariable analyses were used to compare the studied outcomes. Results In total, 1447 anticoagulated patients were included – on either VKA (n = 1021) or DOAC (n = 426). There were relatively more bleeding complications in the VKA group (n = 237, 23.2%) than in the DOAC group (n = 69, 16.2%, p = 0.003). The difference persisted in multivariable analysis with 0.7-fold (95% CI: 0.5–0.9, p = 0.014) lower odds for patients under DOAC than under VKA for presenting with any bleeding complications, and 0.6-fold (95% 0.4–0.9, p = 0.013) lower odds for presenting with intracranial haemorrhage. There were no significant differences in the other studied outcomes. Conclusions Among elderly, anticoagulated patients who had fallen from standing, those under DOACs had a lower proportional incidence of bleeding complications in general and an even lower incidence of intracranial haemorrhage than in patients under VKAs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 316-323
Author(s):  
Martín Ruiz Ortiz ◽  
Javier Muñiz ◽  
María Asunción Esteve-Pastor ◽  
Francisco Marín ◽  
Inmaculada Roldán ◽  
...  

Objective: To describe major events at follow up in octogenarian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) according to anticoagulant treatment: direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Methods: A total of 578 anticoagulated patients aged ≥80 years with AF were included in a prospective, observational, multicenter study. Basal features, embolic events (stroke and systemic embolism), severe bleedings, and all-cause mortality at follow up were investigated according to the anticoagulant treatment received. Results: Mean age was 84.0 ± 3.4 years, 56% were women. Direct oral anticoagulants were prescribed to 123 (21.3%) patients. Compared with 455 (78.7%) patients treated with VKAs, those treated with DOACs presented a lower frequency of permanent AF (52.9% vs 61.6%, P = .01), cancer history (4.9% vs 10.9%, P = .046), renal failure (21.1% vs 32.2%, P = .02), and left ventricular dysfunction (2.4% vs 8.0%, P = .03); and higher frequency of previous stroke (26.0% vs 16.6%, P = .02) and previous major bleeding (8.1% vs 3.6%, P = .03). There were no significant differences in Charlson, CHA2DS2VASc, nor HAS-BLED scores. At 3-year follow up, rates of embolic events, severe bleedings, and all-cause death (per 100 patients-year) were similar in both groups (DOACs vs VKAs): 0.34 vs 1.35 ( P = .15), 3.45 vs 4.41 ( P = .48), and 8.2 vs 11.0 ( P = .18), respectively, without significant differences after multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03-1.93, P = .19; HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.44-1.76, P = .72 and HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.53-1.33, P = .46, respectively). Conclusion: In this “real-world” registry, the differences in major events rates in octogenarians with AF were not statistically significant in those treated with DOACs versus VKAs.


Hematology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (1) ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Monagle ◽  
Fiona Newall

Abstract Venous thrombosis (VTE) in children and neonates presents numerous management challenges. Although increasing in frequency, VTE in children and neonates is still uncommon compared with adults. The epidemiology of VTE is vastly different in neonates vs children vs adolescents vs adults. In reality, pediatric thrombosis should be viewed as a multitude of rare diseases (eg, renal vein thrombosis, spontaneous thrombosis, catheter-related thrombosis, cerebral sinovenous thrombosis), all requiring different approaches to diagnosis and with different short- and long-term consequences, but linked by the use of common therapeutic agents. Further, children have fundamentally different physiology in terms of blood flow, developmental hemostasis, and, likely, endothelial function. The American Society ofHematology 2017 Guidelines for Management of Venous Thromboembolism: Treatment of Pediatric VTE provides up-to-date evidence-based guidelines related to treatment. Therefore, this article will focus on the practical use of therapeutic agents in the management of pediatric VTE, especially unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and oral vitamin K antagonists, as the most common anticoagulants used in children. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) remain in clinical trials in children and should not be used outside of formal trials for the foreseeable future.


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