warfarin and Coronary-Occlusion

The article concerns the policy of anti-platelet treatment in patients with coronary heart disease exposed to transcutaneous coronary interventions. Patients with cardiac fibrillations are specially considered. International trials are reviewed.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Anticoagulants; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Contraindications; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Occlusion; Coronary Thrombosis; Disease Progression; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stents; Vitamin K; Warfarin

BACKGROUND Coronary artery embolization is an exceedingly rare cause of myocardial infarction, but a few cases in association with prosthetic mechanical valves have been reported. We report a case of embolic myocardial infarction caused by a thrombus in the left atrium with deranged coagulation profile in a patient with critical mitral stenosis under warfarinization. CASE REPORT A 22-year-old woman was taken to the catheterization lab for early coronary intervention in lieu of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Electrocardiography showed T↓ in V1 to V4, and atrial fibrillation with controlled ventricular rate. Coronary angiography showed total occlusion of the mid-left anterior descending artery with thrombus. After upstream treatment with tirofiban, the apparent thrombus was dislodged distally while passing a BMW wire. No abnormalities were seen by intravascular ultrasound study. Echocardiography revealed critical mitral stenosis, and left atrial clot with mild left ventricular dysfunction. Coagulation profile revealed sub-therapeutic international normalized ratio levels. The sequential angiographic images, normal intravascular ultrasound study, and presence of atrial fibrillation are confirmatory of coronary embolism as the cause of myocardial infarction. Anticoagulation and treatment of acute coronary syndrome were initiated and she was referred for closed mitral valvulotomy. CONCLUSIONS Coronary artery thromboembolism as a nonatherosclerotic cause of acute coronary syndrome is rare. The treatment consists of aggressive anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, and interventional options, including simple wiring when possible. In this context, primary prevention in the form of patient education on optimal anticoagulation with oral vitamin K antagonist and medical advice about imminent thromboembolic risks are of extreme importance.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Coronary Occlusion; Coronary Vessels; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Mitral Valve Stenosis; Thromboembolism; Warfarin; Young Adult

Topics: Adult; Anticoagulants; Cardiomyopathies; Chest Pain; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Occlusion; Drug-Eluting Stents; Dyspnea; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Heart Diseases; Heart Transplantation; Humans; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Thrombosis; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left; Warfarin

Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion and novel pharmacological therapies are now available to manage stroke risk in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation; however, the cost-effectiveness of LAA occlusion compared with dabigatran and warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is unknown.. Cost-utility analysis using a patient-level Markov microsimulation decision analytic model with a lifetime horizon was undertaken to determine the lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of LAA occlusion in relation to dabigatran and warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk for stroke without contraindications to oral anticoagulation. The analysis was performed from the perspective of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the third-party payer for insured health services in Ontario, Canada. Effectiveness and utility data were obtained from the published literature. Cost data were obtained from the Ontario Drug Benefits Formulary and the Ontario Case Costing Initiative. Warfarin therapy had the lowest discounted quality-adjusted life years at 4.55, followed by dabigatran at 4.64 and LAA occlusion at 4.68. The average discounted lifetime cost was $21 429 for a patient taking warfarin, $25 760 for a patient taking dabigatran, and $27 003 for LAA occlusion. Compared with warfarin, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for LAA occlusion was $41 565. Dabigatran was extendedly dominated.. Percutaneous LAA occlusion represents a novel therapy for stroke reduction that is cost-effective compared with warfarin for patients at risk who have nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Topics: Aged; Atrial Appendage; Atrial Fibrillation; Benzimidazoles; beta-Alanine; Computer Simulation; Coronary Occlusion; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Dabigatran; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Male; Markov Chains; Models, Statistical; Ontario; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Risk Factors; Stroke; Warfarin

Topics: Atrial Appendage; Atrial Fibrillation; Benzimidazoles; beta-Alanine; Coronary Occlusion; Dabigatran; Female; Heart Failure; Heart Transplantation; Heart-Assist Devices; Humans; Male; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Stroke; Transplantation; Warfarin

Topics: Anticoagulants; Cardiac Catheterization; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Occlusion; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Female; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; Humans; Middle Aged; Mitral Valve; Suction; Thrombectomy; Thromboembolism; Treatment Outcome; Warfarin