Urological surgery and antiplatelet drugs after cardiac and cerebrovascular accidents.
OBJECTIVE
The perioperative treatment of patients on dual antiplatelet therapy after myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular event or coronary stent implantation represents an increasingly frequent issue for urologists and anesthesiologists. We assess the current scientific evidence and propose strategies concerning treatment of these patients.


METHODS
A MEDLINE and PubMed search was conducted for articles related to antiplatelet therapy after myocardial infarction, coronary stents and cerebrovascular events, as well as the use of aspirin and/or clopidogrel in the context of surgery.


RESULTS
Early discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention is associated with a high risk of coronary thrombosis, which is further increased by the hypercoagulable state induced by surgery. Aspirin has recently been recommended as a lifelong therapy. Clopidogrel is mandatory for 6 weeks after myocardial infarction and bare metal stents, and for 12 months after drug-eluting stents. Surgery must be postponed beyond these waiting periods or performed with patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy because withdrawal therapy increases 5 to 10 times the risk of postoperative myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis or death. The shorter the waiting period between revascularization and surgery the greater the risk of adverse cardiac events. The risk of surgical hemorrhage is increased approximately 20% by aspirin and 50% by clopidogrel.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of coronary thrombosis when antiplatelet agents are withdrawn before surgery is generally higher than the risk of surgical hemorrhage when antiplatelet agents are maintained. However, this issue has not yet been sufficiently evaluated in urological patients and in many instances during urological surgery the risk of bleeding can be dangerous. A thorough dialogue among surgeon, cardiologist and anesthesiologist is essential to determine all risk factors and define the best possible strategy for each patient.
Eberli
Daniel
D
Urology Clinic, University Hospital Zürich, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland. daniel.eberli@usz.ch
Chassot
Pierre-Guy
PG
Sulser
Tullio
T
Samama
Charles Marc
CM
Mantz
Jean
J
Delabays
Alain
A
Spahn
Donat R
DR
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors