According to current recommendations, patients on dabigatran should stop the drug 24-96 h before scheduled surgery. This may seem too long for non-elective cases. The aim of our study was to assess the number of patients on dabigatran who could theoretically undergo surgery 12 h post last drug dosing. We measured dabigatran plasma trough concentration by Hemoclot assay in 75 consecutive patients receiving dabigatran. Coagulation was assessed by aPTT and thromboelastography (TEG). Plasma levels ≤30 ng/ml were considered low. TEG parameters measured were clot reaction time (R), clot growth index (k), angle (α), maximal amplitude (MA) and the percentage of clot lysed after 30 min (LY30). Twelve patients (16%) had low plasma dabigatran levels 11.6 ± 0.9 h post last dosing. These patients compared to those with higher levels had significantly different aPTT (37.7 ± 4.4 vs. 49.6 ± 9.2 s; p < 0.001) and TEG R (6.7 ± 1.3 vs. 8.4 ± 2.6 min; p = 0.002). Only three of the patients with low levels had an aPTT >40 s. Within those with levels >30 ng/ml, four patients (6.4%) had plasma dabigatran levels ≥200 ng/ml, all with aPTT >65 s and TEG R >11 min. When the analysis was restricted to patients with creatinine clearance >80 ml/min, six (27.3%) had low plasma dabigatran levels. In this theoretical study, with a low risk population, it is suggested that one-sixth of patients receiving dabigatran have low drug concentrations at 12 h. Further studies are needed to confirm that such patients with low trough levels can actually undergo safely early surgery if necessary.

Background Perioperative therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with cardiovascular diseases poses several challenges, including alterations in intravascular volume, serum electrolytes, the coagulation cascade, and drug pharmacokinetics. Methods This review article summarizes different indications of plasma exchange for patients requiring cardiac surgery based on reported case reports and case series. Results The most common reported indication is plasma exchange for the management of allosensitized cardiac transplant candidate patients in combination with immunosuppressive regimens, which increases the likelihood of obtaining a cross‐match‐negative allograft, improving post‐transplant clinical outcome. The second most common indication is for patients with a history of heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia syndrome that permits the use of heparin in cardiopulmonary bypass in an urgent cardiac surgery. Less common indications are restoration of clotting factors for patients with congenital bleeding disorders or removal of cold agglutinins. No severe complications were described in reported cases. Conclusion Therapeutic plasma exchange is an effective and safe procedure that could be performed preoperatively and intraoperatively in urgent cardiac surgery for the management of antibody‐mediated disorders including allosensitized cardiac transplant candidate patients or patients with heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Patient: Male, 74 Final Diagnosis: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) Symptoms: Chest discomfort Medication: Heparin Clinical Procedure: Angioplasty and bypass surgery Specialty: Cardiology Objective: Adverse events of drug therapy Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin therapy, characterized by thrombocytopenia and high risk for venous and arterial thrombosis. Case Report: We report an unusual case of acute stent thrombosis secondary to delayed HIT. A 74-year-old man with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction had a coronary angiography which revealed 2-vessel disease. A bolus of unfractionated heparin (UFH) was administered at admission and he received fondaparinux during his hospitalization. We performed elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stents to LAD and LCx. Two hours after PCI, the patient developed acute pulmonary edema, and repeat angiography revealed an occlusive thrombus in the ostial LAD and the LCx. A turbidimetric assay for the rapid detection of plasma anti-PF4/heparin antibodies was negative. After repeated unsuccessful attempts of balloon angioplasty and continuous thrombosis, the patient was transferred for emergency surgical revascularisation and was treated with additional UFH followed by enoxaparin. Platelets decreased gradually to 38 k/μl 7 days after surgery, at which time enoxaparin was replaced with fondaparinux. The subsequent HIT test results were positive. Conclusions: HIT should be considered in patients with multiple recent exposures to anticoagulants, independent of the platelet count, if there are signs and symptoms of thrombosis.

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) is a novel and promising treatment option for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who are ineligible for pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and for those with persistent or recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. We present the results of BPA procedures in CTEPH patients included in the Greek Pulmonary Hypertension Registry, evaluating the real-life efficacy and safety. We analyzed data from 180 BPA procedures (2–17/patient, mean 8 ± 4/patient, 1248 dilated vessels, 0–18/session). Significant improvements were observed in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (a reduction by 44%, p < 0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance (reduction by 60%, p < 0.001), and NT-proBNP (decrease by >70%, p: 0.003), while cardiac index improved modestly (9% increase, p = 0.143). We had 37 BPA-related non-fatal complications (20.6% in all interventions), predominantly including hemoptysis. Overall survival was 91%, 75% and 62% at 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively. Therefore, BPA may be a promising therapeutic option in patients with CTEPH in Greece.