Abstracto

Current strategies for bridging dual antiplatelet therapy in patients requiring surgery

I Anastasiou, S Petousis & M Hamilos

Perioperative management of patients with an indication for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and, in particular, patients during the first weeks after coronary stent implantation remains a challenging task for both cardiologists and surgeons, despite the advent in clinical pharmacology and stent technology, as well as the increasing clinical experience. Precise balancing of the risk of coronary stent thrombosis after DAPT discontinuation against the hazard of life-threatening perioperative hemorrhage is paramount for decision making, but it is in many cases extremely difficult. This is reflected on the lack of universally accepted guidelines on managing such patients.