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Background and Aims: There is little evidence on the impact of current recommendations on the use of antiplatelet therapy during the perioperative and periprocedural period in our setting. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and clinical impact of inappropriate use of antiplatelet therapy in a population of patients undergoing surgery or a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure in "real life" in Spain., Methods: A prospective multicenter observational study of patients treated with antiplatelet agents requiring intervention was conducted. The incidence of thrombotic and hemorrhagic events at 30 days was analyzed according to peri-intervention management of antiplatelet therapy., Results: We included 643 patients (31.9% women, 39.0% over 75 years of age), most of them (87.7%) receiving aspirin as antiplatelet therapy at a dose of 100mg/day. Indications for antiplatelet therapy were ischemic heart disease (44.9%), cerebrovascular disease (21.7%), and peripheral vascular disease (23.0%). Ischemic risk was low in 74.3%, while 51.6% had a low bleeding risk of the intervention. Periprocedural management was considered appropriate in 61.7% of cases. 30-day incidence of the combined primary endpoint of thrombotic events and major bleeding (12.1% versus 5.0%; p=0.002) and 30-day mortality (5.2% versus 1.5%; p=0.008) were significantly higher in patients with inappropriate periprocedural management of antiplatelet agents., Conclusions: Despite current recommendations for the use of antiplatelet drugs in the perioperative/periprocedural period, their implementation in the "real world" remains low. Inappropriate use is associated with an increased incidence of adverse events, both thrombotic and hemorrhagic., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background and aim: Patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement often are under antiplatelet therapy with a potential thromboembolic risk if these medications are discontinued. This systematic review aims to assess if maintaining aspirin and/or clopidogrel treatment increases the risk of bleeding following PEG placement. Methods: A systematic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases was developed for studies investigating the risk of bleeding in patients on antiplatelet therapy undergoing PEG tube insertion. Summary estimates, including 95 % confidence intervals (CI), were calculated. A fixed or random effects model was used depending on heterogeneity (I²). Publication bias risks were assessed by means of funnel plot analysis. Results: Eleven studies with a total of 6,233 patients (among whom 3,665 were undergoing antiplatelet treatment), met the inclusion criteria and were included in the quantitative summary. Any PEG tube placement-related bleeding was found in 2.67 % (95 % CI 1.66 %, 3.91 %) of the entire population and in 2.7 % (95 % CI 1.5 %, 4.1 %) of patients not receiving antiplatelet therapy. Pooled relative risk (RR) for bleeding in patients under aspirin, when compared to controls, was 1.43 (95 % CI 0.89, 2.29; I² = 0 %); pooled RR for clopidogrel was 1.21 (95 % CI 0.48, 3.04; I² = 0 %) and for dual antiplatelet therapy, 2.13; (95 % CI 0.77, 5.91; I² = 47 %). No significant publication bias was evident for the different medications analyzed. Conclusion: Antiplatelet therapy was safe among patients undergoing PEG tube insertion. Future prospective and randomized studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm the results of this study.

Introduction: Cerebrovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability in developed countries. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and clopidogrel are the most widely-used antiplatelet drugs for secondary prevention of recurrent thromboembolic events. However, there have been cases in which antiplatelet drugs did not inhibit platelet activity; this phenomenon is called resistance, and it may be modulated at the genetic level., Development: Following a literature search, we reviewed the current state of antiplatelet therapy and covered the different types of resistance to antiplatelet therapy, how it is measured, current problems and limitations, and any genetic factors that have been associated with resistance. We mainly used the Genome Wide Association Studies in the field of ASA and clopidogrel resistance., Conclusions: We observed an association between different genetic factors and antiplatelet drug resistance as measured by platelet activity. However, there is no evident association between these genetic factors and risk of new thromboembolic events., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel has been the mainstay of both acute and chronic phase coronary artery disease, reducing importantly the risk of adverse events. Despite a correct compliance, a non-negligible rate of adverse events still happens. New compounds, with improved properties, are now clinically available (such as prasugrel or ticagrelor) or under advanced development. The aim of the present review is the description of these new compounds, particularly prasugrel and ticagrelor., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To assess the incidence of postoperative complications, blood transfusions and survival at one month, in the old patients operated for hip fracture undergoing chronic treatment with antiplatelet drugs., Material and Methods: Two hundred twenty three patients operated for hip fracture were studied retrospectively, separated into 3 groups: patients who received acetylsalicylic acid (group I), patients who were given 100mg/day of acetylsalicylic acid or 300mg/day of triflusal (group II) and patients receiving>100mg/day of acetylsalicylic acid, or>300mg/day of triflusal or thienopyridines (group III). Surgery was delayed for 4 days in patients in group III. Demographic, biological, clinical and treatment characteristics, postoperative complications and survival at one month were recorded., Results: Patients in group III were older and sustain worse general health status. Patients with a higher transfusion requirement were those of group II (73.8%) (P=0.192), who also showed a higher percentage of anaemia on admission. Severe cardiovascular complications were experienced by 5.4% of group III patients, 4.8% of group II patients and 2.1% of group I patients. Patients from group III presented a significant amount of respiratory complications (P=0.007)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that delaying surgery for 4 days in patients treated with clopidogrel can be associated to an increase in postoperative respiratory complications and severe adverse cardiovascular events, without increasing the tranfusional index, hospital stay, mortality, and without complications related to neuraxial anaesthesia., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)