47 UNDER THE BRIDGE: OFF-LABEL CANGRELOR FOR PCI PATIENTS UNDERGOING NON CARDIAC SURGERY


 
 
 Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) reduces the risk of stent thrombosis after percutaneous intervention (PCI), but it is estimated that approximately 5 to 10% of PCI patients undergo major noncardiac surgeries within 12 months from the procedure, which requires DAPT interruption. The interruption of DAPT reduces the risk of perioperative bleeding, but increases the risk of stent thrombosis. Peri-operative “bridge” therapy with cangrelor, a reversible and competitive intravenous P2Y12 receptor inhibitor with rapid on/offset of action, may offer a solution for high-risk patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery who require DAPT interruption. However, the use of cangrelor for this indication is currently off-label.
 
 
 
 A 58-year-old man was admitted to ER with increasing dyspnea and oppressive chest pain on exertion. A diagnosis of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) was made and PCI of the left main-left anterior descendent artery segment and the right coronary artery was performed with implantation of four drug-eluting stents. DAPT was prescribed for 12 months with acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg daily and ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily. The day after the procedure, due to gross hematuria with clots formation; the hemoglobin level fell to 8 g/dL and a transfusion was required. Subsequent abdominal echocardiography revealed two bladder neoformations that required further endoscopic evaluation and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). In preparation for such invasive procedure, DAPT required interruption despite the high risk of catastrophic consequences.
 
 
 
 After ticagrelor interruption, cangrelor was started intravenously at a rate of 0.6 mcg/Kg/min for 5 days and stopped 2 hours before the TURBT procedure, which was performed with minimal blood loss and no ischemic complications. Cangrelor infusion was re-started 2 hours after surgery at the same initial rate and planned for 12 hours if no sudden bleeding occurred. The day after the TURBT procedure cangrelor was stopped and DAPT was re-initiated with aspirin 100 mg daily and clopidogrel 75 mg daily (after a 600 mg loading dose). The patient was discharged 2 days later without any new bleeding or ischemic event.
 
 
 
 Premature discontinuation of DAPT is a strong predictor of stent thrombosis in patients undergoing PCI who require major noncardiac surgery. Cangrelor represents a viable option for managing high-risk individuals who require prolonged P2Y12 receptor blockade with rapid onset and offset of action despite discontinuation of oral therapy. This use is currently off-label due to lack of well powered randomized clinical trials of bridge therapy.
