ROLE AND PROBLEMATICS OF THE EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA DURING EXTENSIVE LIVER RESECTIONS

In the following article it was evaluated the coagulopathy and/or hypotension incidence rate in patients with the liver extensive resection, who were treated with the thoracal epidural anesthesia and pain management (TEA). Materials and methods. There were enrolled 55 subjects whom the liver extensive resection with TEA both in the intraoperative, and post-operative period was performed at the following site: National Institute of Surgery and Transplantology of the NAMS of Ukraine named after A.A. Shalimov. Influence on the haemodynamics was evaluated on the basis of the mean blood pressure (MBP) decrease lower than 65 mm Hg and appearance of the necessity of vasoactive substances’ administration. We determined the coagulation system’s alteration on the basis of changes of the indicators related to the prothrombotic time (PTT), prothrombotic index (PTI) and international normalization ratio (INR). Vascular platelet hemostasis was evaluated on the basis of the platelets level dynamics. Result. 80% of the 55 subjects required administration of noradrenaline with the aim of the objective MBP control. Execution of the liver extensive resection was characterized by the verifiable decrease of the platelets in the early post-operative period, but this decrease was not clinically significant. It was observed the verifiable increase of the PTT starting from the intraoperative period at the 16,5% (р=0,0001) in comparison with the baseline values, which correlated with the change of PTI and INR.Execution of the liver extensive resection was characterized by the decrease of the blood coagulation properties in early post-operative period, and which led to the verifiable increase of the prothrombotic time, INR and decrease of PTI. Conclusion. Now therefore, the influence of the TEA on the systemic hemodynamics and coagulation system requires of the alternative safe pain management methods’ search for this subjects’ group.

The Dilemma of Peri-Procedural Warfarin Management: A Narrative Review

Periprocedural vitamin K antagonist management is a complex process and inherently entails multiple clinical issues. Marked variations have been reported in different aspects of this process. These differences were noted at the clinician and institutional levels owing to the lack of evidence-based data leading to many discrepancies in decision-making. This review aims to address the gap of vitamin K antagonist periprocedural management acknowledged by previously published prescribers’ questionnaires. One of the components of this process is “bridging,” which aims to provide minimal interruption of the anticoagulation period through the use of heparin products. Recent studies showed that bridging is increasing bleeding risk. Secondly, interruption decision relies on the classification of thromboembolism risk which depends on trials that did not include patients with atrial fibrillation. Thirdly, the interruption duration is different among different International normalization ratio levels, which strengthens the difference in the clinical practice of preoperative vitamin K antagonist management. Lastly, the resumption of a vitamin-K antagonist after surgery has many scenarios according to the procedure and patient risk of bleeding. Vitamin-K antagonist periprocedural management is complicated due to individual practice and the lack of strictly implemented institutional standardized protocols to guide, manage and evaluate the process.

Low-dose warfarin combined with low-dose aspirin associated Spinal intramedullary hemorrhage: a case report

Background:Spinal intramedullary hemorrhage is a rare event, the disease still has not received enough attention and many characteristics of the disease have not been sufficiently explored. Due to its rarity, it can easily be forgotten or misdiagnosed. Case presentation:We report a case of 72-year-old male patient with a medical history of coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation (AF), hypertension, cervical spondylosis, carotid and vertebral artery stenosis with low-dose anticoagulation combined with low-dose antiplatelet therapy who suffered from sudden posterior neck and back pain for 3 hours visited our emergency department (ED). The International Normalization Ratio (INR) were controlled well, and other laboratory tests were within normal limits or only slightly abnormal. However, the patient was diagnosed with spinal intramedullary hemorrhage and died finally. Conclusion:Anticoagulation combined with antiplatelet-associated rare and life-threatening complications should be paid more attention.

A Retrospective Comparison of 3-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Products for Warfarin Reversal

Background and Purpose: Current guidelines suggest that 3-factor prothrombin complex concentrate is a possible alternative to 4-factor products for the emergent reversal of bleeding secondary to warfarin. While multiple observational studies have evaluated various forms of 3-factor prothrombin complex concentrate individually, no study has compared the efficacy of the 2 products. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of Bebulin™ and Profilnine™ for the emergent reversal of warfarin-associated major bleeding. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients receiving both Bebulin™ and Profilnine™ at an urban, academic medical center with comprehensive stroke center designation and a neurosurgical center of excellence. All patients were treated at a single center that utilized a fixed, weight-based dosing protocol. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients in each group achieving a goal international normalization ratio of 1.4 or less. Results: There was a significant difference in goal international normalization ratio achieved favoring Bebulin™ (85.5% vs 27.3%; P < .001) over Profilnine™. Median dose per kilogram of actual body weight was the same between the groups. When we assessed results by baseline™ international normalization ratio subgroup, more patients in the Bebulin™ group achieved goal when baseline values were 6 or less. No thrombotic events were documented in either group. Conclusions: We found that patients treated with Bebulin™ experienced significantly higher rates of successful international normalization ratio reversal when compared to those who received Profilnine™. Further research is needed to determine the comparative efficacy between the 2 agents.

Control Of Anticoagulation Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation (COAT-AF Study) in Real Clinical Practice

Aim. To study the frequency of prescribing anticoagulant therapy in outpatients with AF in accordance with clinical guidelines.Material and methods. Control Of Anticoagulation Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation (COAT-AF) observational study was conducted at the Saint Joasaph Belgorod Regional Clinical Hospital from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017. Patients with AF represented 15.5% of all patients admitted to cardiology department N1. 429 patients were included into the study: 203 women, 226 men; aged of 62.55±11.12 years. Exclusion criteria were mitral stenosis, mechanic prosthetic valve, first episode of AF. CHA2DS2-VASc score was used in all patients for calculation the risk of ischemic stroke and systemic thromboembolism. For patients that were treated by warfarin international normalization ratio (INR) was assessed at admission and discharge from the hospital.Results. From 429 patients 35 had 1 point according to the CHA2DS2-VASc scale, 393 (91.6%) patients had ≥2 points. Only 1 patient had 0 point. Therefore, most patients had absolute indications to anticoagulant therapy. At admission 60 (14%) patients received new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), 213 (49.6%) – warfarin, 156 (36.4%) – did not take any oral anticoagulant. Among patients receiving warfarin only 36 (8.4%) had target INR at admission. Therefore, effective anticoagulant therapy was observed only in 22.4% of patients in real clinical practice. Analyzing anticoagulant therapy in 2016 and 2017 we found a significant increase in NOAC prescription from 10.4% in 2016 to 18.9% in 2017 (p=0.0193).Conclusion. Our data reflects important gaps of anticoagulant therapy in real clinical practice. We compare our results with other Russian registries that included AF-patients. Data at admission and discharge suggests that there are great possibilities for optimization of anticoagulant therapy mainly with NOACs.

Validation of Pharmacogenetic Testing Before Initiation of Warfarin Therapy

Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant used to prevent or treat clotting disorders associated with venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrilation, cardiac valve replacement, stroke and acute myocardial infarction. It is a vitamin K antagonist composed of S- and R- isomers. The more potent S-warfarin is metabolized by cytochrome 450 isoenzyme 2C9 (CYP2C9), encoded by CYP2C9 gene. Warfarin exerts its anticoagulants effect by inhibitingits target enzyme vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), encoded by vitamin K epoxide reductase subunit 1 (VKOR1) gene. Genetic variation in the CYP2C9 and VKOR1 gene can affect warfarin efficacy and dose required to achieve stable International Normalization Ratio (INR). Specifically two variants in the CYP2CP gene (CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3) result in an enzyme with reduced activity, leading to increased active warfarin levels. A variant in the VKORC1 gene (VKORC1-1639 G>A) can lead to reduced gene expression resulting in decresed level of VKOR. Together these three variants can account for 40-70% of the variability of warfarin dose. Carriers of variant alleles are at higher risk for bleeding complications, particularly at the induction of warfarin therapy. So, genotype-guided dosing algorithms would be better approximate for maintenance of warfarin dose than fixed-dose algorithms. University Heart Journal Vol. 15, No. 2, Jul 2019; 74-78

Prediction of survival following percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction

Background and ObjectivesPercutaneous transhepatic biliary drain is an intervention used to relieve malignant biliary obstruction. This study aims to explore survival after biliary drain insertion, predictive factors of survival and effectiveness to reduce total bilirubin level.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 72 patients who had malignant biliary obstruction and received biliary drain during the time period between March 2005 and February 2015.ResultsMedian patients’ age was 56 years. 38 (52.7%) were males, 34(47.2%) were females. Median survival post biliary drain insertion was 46 days, 95% C/I (37.92–54.02), range (2–453 days). 1, 3, and 6 month survival rates were 64.7%, 26.5%, and 7.4% respectively. Multivariate analysis by Cox proportional hazards regression model showed the presence of ascites to be significant predictors of survival, other factors analyzed were: total bilirubin, serum creatinine, international normalization ratio, serum albumin, pleural effusion and liver metastasis.ConclusionSurvival after biliary drain insertion can vary from few days to few months. Presence of ascites is an independent predictor of survival after this intervention.

Activated Hemostatic Biomarkers in Patients with Implanted Left Ventricle Assist Devices: Are Heparin and/or Clopidogrel Justified?

Background: Adequate anticoagulation represents a major problem for left ventricle assist device (LVAD) utilization in patients awaiting heart transplantation as well as for regeneration of the native heart. The proper management of hemostatic abnormalities during LVAD support may improve survival by reducing the incidence of hemorrhagic and/or thromboembolic complications. Case Report: A 40-year-old man with implanted pulsatile LVAD due to dilated cardiomyopathy received aspirin and warfarin. The patient underwent serial weekly monitoring of hemostatic biomarkers including international normalization ratio, prothrombin time, prothrombin activity, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, D-dimer, platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid, platelet count, and mean platelet volume. The external pump was exchanged three times - twice because of a clot formation in the blood chamber of the pump, and once according to the standard protocol. Results: LVAD use was consistently associated with enhanced adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation independent from the timing of clot formation or external pump exchange. Among coagulation indices, increased D-dimer holds predictive value for clot formation. The fibrinogen level peaked before the first pump exchange and was twice as high than the average values. Gradual improvement in exercise capacity was observed 2 years after implantation, after which the patient underwent a controlled stress test in the stop mode of the LVAD and the device was successfully explanted. Conclusions: Serial assessment of hemostatic biomarkers may benefit and triage LVAD patients. Consistent platelet activation during long-term LVAD may justify the addition of clopidogrel, while high D-dimer and/or elevated fibrinogen may indicate adding heparin to the conventional antithrombotic regimen. Randomized evidence is needed to test such a hypothesis.

Management of Symptomatic Ascites in Hospice Patients With Paracentesis

Refractory ascites causes significant distress to patients and can be managed in various ways. In hospice patients where the goal of care is to preserve comfort and foster better quality of life, diuretics should be tried first; however, in resistant cases, home-based paracentesis should be entertained. Home-based paracentesis is a safe and simple procedure that can be done blindly, if done under standard precautions there is minimal associated risk of bleeding, infection or perforation and no need for pre or post-laboratory testing or the correction of high international normalization ratio or thrombocytopenia. Home-based paracentesis is cost effective, provides immediate symptomatic relief, good patient and caregiver satisfaction and obviates the associated distress to the patient and family of transporting the patient for either outpatient or inpatient paracentesis.