Bridging Therapy (bridging + therapy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Bridging therapy in patients on long-term oral anticoagulants who require surgery: the Prospective Peri-operative Enoxaparin Cohort Trial (PROSPECT)

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 11 2007
A. S. DUNN
Summary., Background:, The peri-operative management of patients on oral anticoagulants (OACs) is a common clinical problem. Our aim was to determine the incidence of major bleeding during peri-operative administration of treatment-dose enoxaparin and the impact of the extensiveness of the procedure on the risk of bleeding. Methods:, We performed a prospective cohort study of 260 patients at 24 North American sites on OACs for atrial fibrillation or a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) requiring invasive or surgical procedures whose treating physician felt that bridging therapy was required. Warfarin was withheld, and once-daily s.c. enoxaparin (1.5 mg kg,1) was given peri-operatively. Patients were followed for 28 days after OAC was therapeutic. Results:, Major bleeding was observed in nine of 260 patients (3.5%, 95% CI: 1.6,6.5). The bleeding risk varied markedly by extensiveness of procedure: the incidence of major bleeding for invasive procedures, minor surgery and major surgery was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.02,3.7), 0% (95% CI: 0,5.0), and 20.0% (95% CI: 9.1,35.7), respectively. There were five thromboembolic events in total (1.9%, 95% CI: 0.6,4.4). There were four arterial events (2.3%, 95% CI: 0.6,5.7) in 176 patients with atrial fibrillation, and one venous event (1.0%, 95% CI: 0.03,5.7) in 96 patients with prior DVT. Conclusions:, Bridging therapy with once-daily therapeutic-dose enoxaparin administered primarily in an outpatient setting has a low incidence of major bleeding for patients undergoing invasive procedures and minor surgery. Further studies are needed to optimize the bridging strategy for patients undergoing major surgery. [source]


Acute kidney injury in cirrhosis,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao
Acute renal failure (ARF), recently renamed acute kidney injury (AKI), is a relatively frequent problem, occurring in approximately 20% of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Although serum creatinine may underestimate the degree of renal dysfunction in cirrhosis, measures to diagnose and treat AKI should be made in patients in whom serum creatinine rises abruptly by 0.3 mg/dL or more (,26.4 ,mol/L) or increases by 150% or more (1.5-fold) from baseline. The most common causes of ARF (the term is used interchangeably with AKI) in cirrhosis are prerenal azotemia (volume-responsive prerenal AKI), acute tubular necrosis, and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), a functional type of prerenal AKI exclusive of cirrhosis that does not respond to volume repletion. Because of the progressive vasodilatory state of cirrhosis that leads to relative hypovolemia and decreased renal blood flow, patients with decompensated cirrhosis are very susceptible to developing AKI with events associated with a decrease in effective arterial blood volume. HRS can occur spontaneously but is more frequently precipitated by events that worsen vasodilatation, such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Conclusion: Specific therapies of AKI depend on the most likely cause and mechanism. Vasoconstrictors are useful bridging therapies in HRS. Ultimately, liver transplantation is indicated in otherwise reasonable candidates in whom AKI does not resolve with specific therapy. (HEPATOLOGY 2008;48:2064-2077.) [source]


Low-molecular-weight heparin as bridging therapy during interruption of oral anticoagulation in patients undergoing colonoscopy or gastroscopy

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2007
M. Constans
Summary Nowadays, most patients under oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) require invasive procedures such as colonoscopy (CC) or gastroscopy (GC). The goals of the management of OAT are to minimise the risk of thromboembolism and bleeding. We have performed the first prospective, observational study to evaluate these parameters using fixed-dose high-risk thromboprophylactic therapy with sodic bemiparin (Hibor®) as bridging therapy. From January 2004 to January 2005, patients under OAT were included. Periprocedure prophylaxis consisted of: Acenocumarol patients: Day ,3: withdrawal acenocumarol. Days ,2,,1,0: Hibor ®3500 UI/d sc and days +1,+2,+3: Hibor® 3500 U/I + acenocumarol. And day +5: acenocumarol only. Warfarin patients: Days ,5,,4: withdrawal warfarin, ,3,,2,,1, 0; Hibor® 3500 UI/day sc, days +1,+2,+3,+4: Hibor® 3500 UI/day sc and warfarin and day +5; warfarin only. Thromboembolic complications and bleeding were recorded in a 3 month follow-up. We included 100 consecutive patients in the intention-to-treat group. The remaining 98 patients were 50 women and 48 men. Mean age of women was 71.1 (range: 46,87) years and 70.7 (range: 39,86) years in men. Eighty-three took acenocumarol, and 15 warfarin. Thirty-two gastroscopies and 61 colonoscopies were performed and in five patients both were performed. No thromboembolic and bleeding complications related to bemiparin were observed in the 103 endoscopies. Two patients developed pruritus at the punction site. Fixed-dose high-risk thromboprophilactic therapy with bemiparin (Hibor®) is safe and effective as a bridging therapy in patients under OAT who require GC or CC. [source]


Review article: the optimal medical management of acute severe ulcerative colitis

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 5 2010
A. L. Hart
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 615,627 Summary Background, Management of acute severe ulcerative colitis (UC) is a clinical challenge, with a mortality rate of approximately 1,2%. The traditional management with intravenous corticosteroids has been modified by introduction of ciclosporin and more recently, infliximab. Aim, To provide a detailed and comprehensive review of the medical management of acute severe UC. Methods, PubMed and recent conference abstracts were searched for articles relating to treatment of acute severe UC. Results, Two-thirds of patients respond to intravenous steroids in the short term. In those who fail steroids, low-dose intravenous ciclosporin at 2 mg/kg/day is effective. Approximately 75% and 50% of patients treated with ciclosporin avoid colectomy in the short and long-terms, respectively. Long-term outcome of ciclosporin therapy is improved by introduction of azathioprine on discharge from hospital, together with oral ciclosporin as a bridging therapy. Controlled data show that infliximab is effective as rescue therapy for acute severe UC and the effect appears to be durable, although longer-term follow-up data are needed. Conclusions, Both ciclosporin and infliximab have demonstrated efficacy as rescue medical therapies in patients with acute severe UC, but surgery needs to be considered if there is failure to improve or clinical deterioration. [source]


Bridging therapy in patients on long-term oral anticoagulants who require surgery: the Prospective Peri-operative Enoxaparin Cohort Trial (PROSPECT)

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 11 2007
A. S. DUNN
Summary., Background:, The peri-operative management of patients on oral anticoagulants (OACs) is a common clinical problem. Our aim was to determine the incidence of major bleeding during peri-operative administration of treatment-dose enoxaparin and the impact of the extensiveness of the procedure on the risk of bleeding. Methods:, We performed a prospective cohort study of 260 patients at 24 North American sites on OACs for atrial fibrillation or a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) requiring invasive or surgical procedures whose treating physician felt that bridging therapy was required. Warfarin was withheld, and once-daily s.c. enoxaparin (1.5 mg kg,1) was given peri-operatively. Patients were followed for 28 days after OAC was therapeutic. Results:, Major bleeding was observed in nine of 260 patients (3.5%, 95% CI: 1.6,6.5). The bleeding risk varied markedly by extensiveness of procedure: the incidence of major bleeding for invasive procedures, minor surgery and major surgery was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.02,3.7), 0% (95% CI: 0,5.0), and 20.0% (95% CI: 9.1,35.7), respectively. There were five thromboembolic events in total (1.9%, 95% CI: 0.6,4.4). There were four arterial events (2.3%, 95% CI: 0.6,5.7) in 176 patients with atrial fibrillation, and one venous event (1.0%, 95% CI: 0.03,5.7) in 96 patients with prior DVT. Conclusions:, Bridging therapy with once-daily therapeutic-dose enoxaparin administered primarily in an outpatient setting has a low incidence of major bleeding for patients undergoing invasive procedures and minor surgery. Further studies are needed to optimize the bridging strategy for patients undergoing major surgery. [source]


Clinical outcomes with unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin as bridging therapy in patients on long-term oral anticoagulants: the REGIMEN registry,

JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 6 2006
A. C. SPYROPOULOS
Summary.,Background: Patients who receive long-term oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy often require interruption of OAC for an elective surgical or an invasive procedure. Heparin bridging therapy has been used in these situations, although the optimal method has not been established. No large prospective studies have compared unfractionated heparin (UFH) with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for the perioperative management of patients at risk of thromboembolism requiring temporary interruption of long-term OAC therapy. Patients/methods: This multicenter, observational, prospective registry conducted in North America enrolled 901 eligible patients on long-term OAC who required heparin bridging therapy for an elective surgical or invasive procedure. Practice patterns and clinical outcomes were compared between patients who received either UFH alone (n = 180) or LMWH alone (n = 721). Results: Overall, the majority of patients (74.5%) requiring heparin bridging therapy had arterial indications for OAC. LMWH, in mostly twice-daily treatment doses, represented approximately 80% of the study population. LMWH-bridged patients had significantly fewer arterial indications for OAC, a lower mean Charlson comorbidity score, and were less likely to undergo major or cardiothoracic surgery, receive intraprocedural anticoagulants or thrombolytics, or receive general anesthesia than UFH-bridged patients (all P < 0.05). The LMWH group had significantly more bridging therapy completed in an outpatient setting or with a < 24-h hospital stay vs. the UFH group (63.6% vs. 6.1%, P < 0.001). In the LMWH and UFH groups, similar rates of overall adverse events (16.2% vs. 17.1%, respectively, P = 0.81), major composite adverse events (arterial/venous thromboembolism, major bleed, and death; 4.2% vs. 7.9%, respectively, P = 0.07) and major bleeds (3.3% vs. 5.5%, respectively, P = 0.25) were observed. The thromboembolic event rates were 2.4% for UFH and 0.9% for LMWH. Logistic regression analysis revealed that for postoperative heparin use a Charlson comorbidity score > 1 was an independent predictor of a major bleed and that vascular, general, and major surgery were associated with non-significant trends towards an increased risk of major bleed. Conclusions: Treatment-dose LMWH, mostly in the outpatient setting, is used substantially more often than UFH as bridging therapy in patients with predominately arterial indications for OAC. Overall adverse events, including thromboembolism and bleeding, are similar for patients treated with LMWH or UFH. Postoperative heparin bridging should be used with caution in patients with multiple comorbidities and those undergoing vascular, general, and major surgery. These findings need to be confirmed using large randomized trials for specific patient groups undergoing specific procedures. [source]


Long-term effect of bronchial artery embolization in Korean patients with haemoptysis

RESPIROLOGY, Issue 6 2006
Yong Gil KIM
Objective and background: Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) has been regarded as a bridging therapy in the management of massive haemoptysis until a more definite therapy can be pursued. The long-term effectiveness of BAE and the factors associated with failure to control bleeding in an Asian setting of tuberculosis are unknown and were investigated. Methods: Over approximately 4 years, 139 patients received BAE to treat haemoptysis at a single centre, of these, 118 had been followed up for more than 1 year (median 23 months) and were retrospectively recruited into the study. Patients were divided into those who required readmission for treatment of recurrent haemoptysis after BAE (re-bleeding group), and those who did not (non-rebleeding group). Results: Of the 118 patients, 112 (95.8%) had haemoptysis of greater than 100 mL per day. The most common underlying cause of haemoptysis was pulmonary tuberculosis. Eight patients, four of whom had advanced lung cancer, died after BAE. There were 32 patients (27.1%) in the re-bleeding group. Aspergillosis was significantly associated with re-bleeding after BAE (P < 0.05). There were no differences in gender, age, degree of haemoptysis, or APACHE II scores between the re-bleeding and non-rebleeding groups. Twelve patients in the re-bleeding group had a repeat BAE only, whereas seven underwent surgery after repeat BAE. Of the 118 patients who underwent initial BAE, one showed a transient spinal ischaemia. Conclusions: BAE with appropriate medical treatment should be sufficient for most patients with massive haemoptysis. In patients with massive haemoptysis due to aspergilloma, however, elective surgery should be considered if bleeding is not controlled by repeated BAE. [source]


Bridging of Chronic Oral Anticoagulation with Enoxaparin in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the Prospective BRAVE Registry

CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2009
C. Hammerstingl
Current American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines on the perioperative management of oral anticoagulation (OAC) suggest bridging therapy with therapeutic doses of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) if at high or moderate thromboembolic (TE) risk, and with reduced doses in patients with low TE risk. Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of bridging OAC with enoxaparin in AF patients. These are the results of an open, prospective monocenter register. Hospitalized and ambulatory patients with AF requiring bridging therapy at high or moderate TE risk and normal renal function were treated with therapeutic LMWH doses; all other patients received reduced doses. A total of 703 patients were enrolled, of whom 358 (50.9%) were at moderate-to-high and 345 (49.1%) at low TE risk. Renal impairment was detected in 308 patients (43.8%). One hundred ninety patients (27.1%) were treated with therapeutic LMWH doses and 513 (72.9%) with reduced doses. No TE events were observed during the follow-up period (0%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0,0.52). Three major bleeds (0.4%; 0.1,1.2) and 60 minor bleeds were noted (8.9%; 6.6,10.9). Age and total LMWH doses were risk factors for bleeding in the multivariate analysis. The study, under conditions of everyday clinical care, supports a predefined bridging regimen based on the individual patient's TE risk and renal function. Patients with low TE risk or with impaired renal function can be bridged effectively and safely with reduced LMWH doses. [source]