A review of the use of common antiplatelet agents in orthopaedic practice.
Antiplatelet agents are widely prescribed for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. A common clinical problem facing orthopaedic and trauma surgeons is how to manage patients receiving these agents who require surgery, either electively or following trauma. The dilemma is to balance the risk of increased blood loss if the antiplatelet agents are continued peri-operatively against the risk of coronary artery/stent thrombosis and/or other vascular event if the drugs are stopped. The traditional approach of stopping these medications up to two weeks before surgery appears to pose significant danger to patients and may require review. This paper covers the important aspects regarding the two most commonly prescribed antiplatelet agents, aspirin and clopidogrel.
Dineen
P F
PF
Department of Orthopaedics, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Republic of Ireland. patdineen@hotmail.com
Curtin
R J
RJ
Harty
J A
JA
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin