Emergent use of ticagrelor during endovascular reperfusion in large arterial occlusions.

OBJECTIVE: Given many emerging indications for endovascular interventions in ischemic strokes, a safe and effective adjuvant antiplatelet regimen for acute revascularization has become a subject of interest. Ticagrelor is a direct oral P2Y12 inhibitor that may achieve rapid platelet suppression than standard oral therapies. We report our experience of Ticagrelor use in revascularization of acute large arterial steno-occlusive disease, describing procedural post-procedure thrombotic events, major hemorrhages, and other clinical outcomes. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective case series of large steno-occlusive disease requiring endovascular reperfusion with emergent adjuvant Ticagrelor, defined as 30 min of the procedure from skin puncture to closure of the arteriotomy. Major outcomes investigated were thromboembolism in the target artery, and symptomatic intracranial or extracranial major hemorrhages. Additional analyses were performed with respect to timing of the administration and use of rescue GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors if any. RESULTS: 73 consecutive patients were identified, presenting with severe ischemic stroke (median NIHSS 16) of large artery origin. 67% required stent placement (45% cervical carotid, 22% intracranial artery), 9.5% angioplasty and 23% mechanical thrombectomy only. Two experienced symptomatic in-stent occlusion, and 7 experienced major hemorrhages (9.5%) including 3 fatal symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages (4.1%). Among 19 subjects (26%) who received pretreatment with Ticagrelor, there were fewer GPIIb/IIIa administration, angioplasty and stenting, without yielding benefit in functional outcome or mortality. GPIIb/IIIa was administered as rescue therapy in 45 subjects (62%), which was found associated with increased bleeding compared to patients receiving Ticagrelor only, in whom no bleeding complications were recorded (16% vs. 0%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: We report our findings on Ticagrelor as an adjuvant antiplatelet therapy in ischemic stroke of large arterial origin requiring emergent revascularization. Effectiveness, safety, need for additional rescue treatment, and comparison to other commonly used oral antiplatelets should be investigated in future prospective studies.

Concise Definitive Review for Reinitiation of Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, and Gabapentinoids in ICU Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Concise definitive review of the reinitiation of prior-to-admission neuropsychiatric medications (NPMs) in ICU patients. DATA SOURCES: Available literature on PubMed and MEDLINE databases. STUDY SELECTION: Available clinical trials and observational studies addressing the reinitiation of select NPMs (antidepressants, antipsychotics, and gabapentinoids) on various outcomes were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Eligible studies were identified by authors, and recommendations were summarized. DATA SYNTHESIS: Agitation and delirium are recognized as common complications of patients in the ICU. While there is literature that suggests patients can acutely withdraw from opioids, less data are known about withdrawal from NPM such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and gabapentinoids. However, there is some literature that suggests reinitiating some NPMs may lead to reductions in agitation, delirium, and hospital and ICU length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Additional larger studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of reinitiation of select prior-to-admission NPM to prevent agitation and delirium in ICU patients. Multiple factors for NPM reinitiation should be considered, such as reason for admission, organ dysfunction, available route of administration to provide prior-to-admission NPM, concomitant additional medications for agitation and delirium, and safety of these medications for patients in the ICU.

Indications and Evidence for Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The antiplatelet landscape for the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke has changed significantly over the past decade. Poststroke dual antiplatelet regimens are becoming increasingly routine as supported by recent literature and guideline recommendations. Dual antiplatelet therapy after stroke generally consists of aspirin and clopidogrel and is considered in the short term after stroke in select populations including those with mild stroke or transient ischemic attack and in patients with severe intracranial atherosclerosis. When initiating dual antiplatelet therapy, factors that may increase a patient's risk of bleeding must be weighed against the patient's risk of future ischemic events. This review focuses on antiplatelet medications available in the United States with the aim to provide a summary of the available literature on poststroke dual antiplatelet therapy, pharmacological nuances of the agents, and reversal of antiplatelets in the setting of intracerebral hemorrhage.