Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia ; Factor Xa Inhibitors/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/adverse effects* ; Rivaroxaban/adverse effects* ; Singapore ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) used in acute management of patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODSA total of 102 patients with non-ST segment elevation ACS were treated for at least 48 hours ( > or =5 times) with subcutaneous nadroparin (1 mg/kg each 12 hours). All 102 patients underwent coronary angiographies (CAG) within 8 hours after LMWH injection, followed by immediate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

RESULTSAnti-Xa activity at the time of catheterization was (0.62 +/- 0.18) IU/ml, and 90% of the patients had anti-Xa activity > 0.5 IU/ml. No death, myocardial infarction relapse or emergent revascularization occurred after PCI. Thrombosis and/or embolism occurred in 2 patients (3.5%) during PCI. Mild hemorrhage was observed in 4 patients (3.9%) of PCI group and in 2 patients (4.4%) in CAG group. No major hemorrhage occurred.

CONCLUSIONPCI within 8-12 hours of the last dose after > or =48 hours nadroparin subcutaneous injection seems to be effective and safe.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; therapy ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anticoagulants ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Factor Xa Inhibitors ; Humans ; Nadroparin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDLow molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was more effective than unfractionated heparin (UFH) in treating acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, it remains uncertain whether LMWH can be used in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) instead of UFH. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using enoxaparin instead of UFH in the intervention treatment of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSFrom October 2003 to Febuary 2005, 966 patients with CHD were enrolled into this study. Among 966 patients, 455 patients received the PCI, including 283 patients with Non-ST segment elevation ACS (NSTEACS), 511 patients did not received PCI due to mild, moderate lesions or were suitable for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The 966 patients were randomized to enoxaparin group (484 patients) and UFH group (482 patients). Patients in the enoxaparin group were given enoxaparin at least twice subcutaneously (1 mg/kg, q12 h) before catheterization. Plasma anti-Xa activity was determined 1 - 8 hours after the last dose of enoxaparin was determined. The catheterization was performed within 8 hours after the last dose of enoxaparin. The sheath was removed immediately after the procedure. Patients in the UFH group were given UFH 25 mg intravenously before coronary angiography. Additional 65 mg was given intravenously if PCI was to be performed. The sheath was removed 4 hours after the procedure.

RESULTSA total of 227 patients in the enoxaparin group and 228 patients in the UFH group received PCI. In the enoxaparin group, one patient developed acute thrombosis during PCI and resulted in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), no acute or subacute thrombosis was found during hospitalization. In the UFH group, no acute or subacute thrombosis occurred during PCI procedure and hospitalization. Therefore, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) during the hospitalization was 0.44% in the enoxaparin group and 0 in the UFH group. In the enoxaparin group, the sheath was removed immediately after the procedure and 8 patients had hematoma on the puncture site. In the UFH group, the sheath was removed 4 hours after the procedure and 20 cases had hematoma on the puncture site. The incidence of hematoma on the puncture site was significantly higher in the UFH group than that in the enoxaparin group (P < 0.05). Anti-Xa activity was determined in 174 patients in LMWH group. The mean anti-Xa activity was (0.87 +/- 0.23) U/ml, and 94.8% of them had anti-Xa activity >0.5 U/ml and 6.9% of the patient >1.2 U/ml. There was no death and AMI occurred in enoxaparin group, but one patient had AMI caused by subacute thrombosis in UFH group during 30-day follow-up. MACE rate at 30-day follow-up was 0 in enoxaparin group and 0.43% in UFH group.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of the study suggest that it is safe and efficient to give enoxaparin at least twice before the PCI procedure, and the sheath can be removed immediately after PCI. For NSTEACS patient who has received enoxaparin more than twice during the hospitalization can undergo PCI directly and no UFH is necessary before or during PCI.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Enoxaparin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Factor Xa Inhibitors ; Female ; Heparin ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Life-threatening in the short term and leading to a high level of morbidity in the long term, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the most fearful complication following lower limb arthroplasty. With advances in surgical procedure, anesthetic management and postoperative convalescence have altered the risks of venous thromboembolism after total joint arthroplasty in the lower extremity. The pathogenesis of VTE is multifactorial and includes the well-known Virchow's triad of hypercoagulability, venous stasis and endothelial damage. Therefore, it is appropriate to use a multimodal approach to thromboprophylaxis. Despite extensive research, the ideal multimodal prophylaxis against venous thrombolism has not been identified. So this article reviews the recent developments in multimodal prophylaxis for thromboembolism after total joint arthroplasty.
Anesthesia, Epidural ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; adverse effects ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; Aspirin ; therapeutic use ; Factor Xa Inhibitors ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Venous Thromboembolism ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Warfarin ; therapeutic use

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is manifested as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), represents a significant cause of death, disability, and discomfort. They are frequent complications of various surgical procedures. The aging population and the survival of more severely injured patients may suggest an increasing risk of thromboembolism in the trauma patients. Expanded understanding of the population at risk challenges physicians to carefully examine risk factors for VTE to identify high-risk patients who can benefit from prophylaxis. An accurate knowledge of evidence-based risk factors is important in predicting and preventing postoperative DVT, and can be incorporated into a decision support system for appropriate thromboprophylaxis use. Standard use of DVT prophylaxis in a high-risk trauma population leads to a low incidence of DVT. The incidence of VTE is common in Asia. The evaluation includes laboratory tests, Doppler test and phlebography. Screening Doppler sonography should be performed for surveillance on all critically injured patients to identify DVT. D-Dimer is a useful marker to monitor prophylaxis in trauma surgery patients. The optimal time to start prophylaxis is between 2 hours before and 10 hours after surgery, but the risk of PE continues for several weeks. Thromboprophylaxis includes graduated compression stockings and anticoagulants for prophylaxis. Anticoagulants include Warfarin, which belongs to Vitamin K antagonists, unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparins, factor Xa indirect inhibitor Fondaparinux, and the oral IIa inhibitor Melagatran and ximelagatran. Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin is a new and highly effective antithrombotic agent. Prophylactic placement of vena caval filters in selected trauma patients may decrease the incidence of PE. The indications for prophylactic inferior vena cava filter insertion include prolonged immobilization with multiple injuries, closed head injury, pelvic fracture, spine fracture, multiple long bone fracture, and attending discretion. Multiple-trauma patients are at increased risk for DVT but are also at increased risk of bleeding, and the use of heparin may be contraindicated. Serial compression devices (SCDs) are an alternative for DVT prophylaxis. Compression devices provide adequate DVT prophylaxis with a low failure rate and no device-related complications. Immobilization is one of important reasons of VTE. The ambulant patient is far less likely to develop complications of inactivity, not only venous thrombosis, but also contractures, decubitus ulcers, or osteoporosis (with its associated fatigue fractures), as well as bowel or bladder complications.
Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Factor Xa Inhibitors ; Heparin ; therapeutic use ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Orthopedic Procedures ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; prevention & control ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Risk Factors ; Thrombomodulin ; therapeutic use ; Vena Cava Filters ; Venous Thrombosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Vitamin K ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Warfarin ; therapeutic use