Rivaroxaban versus Clopidogrel for Peripheral Artery Disease: A Clinico-Economic Approach of the COMPASS Trial

Analysis of Clinical and Laboratory Risk Factors of Post-Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage in Patients on Direct Oral Anticoagulants with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An Observational Multicenter Cohort

BACKGROUND

Assessing the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) who are taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is challenging. Currently, extensive use of computed tomography (CT) is routine in the emergency department (ED).

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate whether the clinical and laboratory characteristics presented at the ED evaluation can also estimate the risk of post-traumatic ICH in DOAC-treated patients with MTBI.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted in three EDs in Italy from January 1, 2016 to March 15, 2020. All patients treated with DOACs who were evaluated for an MTBI in the ED were enrolled. The primary outcome of the study was the presence of post-traumatic ICH in the head CT performed in the ED.

RESULTS

Of 930 patients on DOACs with MTBI who were enrolled, 6.8% (63 of 930) had a post-traumatic ICH and 1.5% (14 of 930) were treated with surgery or died as a result of the ICH. None of the laboratory factors were associated with an increased risk of ICH. On multivariate analysis, previous neurosurgical intervention, major trauma dynamic, post-traumatic loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia, Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14, and evidence of trauma above the clavicles were associated with a higher risk of post-traumatic ICH. The net clinical benefit provided by risk factor assessment appears superior to the strategy of performing CT on all DOAC-treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of the clinical characteristics presented at ED admission can help identify DOAC-treated patients with MTBI who are at risk of ICH.

A Cohort Study of Rivaroxaban Combined with D-Dimer Dynamic Monitoring in the Prevention of Deep Venous Thrombosis after Knee Arthroplasty

Objective

To explore the cohort study of rivaroxaban combined with D-dimer dynamic monitoring in the prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after knee arthroplasty.

Methods

Eighty-four patients with knee osteoarthritis who went through total knee arthroplasty from June 2019 to June 2021 in our hospital were arbitrarily assigned into the study group and the control group. The patients in the control group were cured with rivaroxaban anticoagulation after operation, and the study group was cured with dynamic monitoring of D-dimer on the basis of the control group. The incidence of postoperative DVT, pulmonary embolism (PE), and bleeding complications (incision ecchymosis and bleeding events) were compared. The related indexes such as drainage volume and blood transfusion volume were compared. The levels of activated partial prothrombin time (APPT), prothrombin time (PT), and D-dimer were dynamically monitored before and after operation. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was adopted to assess the degree of postoperative incision pain, the level of limb swelling before and after operation was measured, the circumference difference of affected limb was calculated, the ecchymosis area was assessed in the form of nine-palace grid, and the scores were compared.

Results

According to the comparison of VAS score, there exhibited no remarkable difference before operation and on the first day after operation, but the VAS score decreased after operation, and the VAS score of the study group on the 3rd day, 7th day, and 14th day after operation was remarkably lower compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There exhibited no remarkable difference in drainage volume (P > 0.05), but the blood transfusion volume and total blood loss in the study group were remarkably lower (P < 0.05). There exhibited no remarkable difference in the level of PT on the 3rd day before operation and on the 3rd day after operation, but on the 7th day and 14th day after operation, the level of PT in the study group was remarkably higher (P < 0.05). The level of PT in the study group was remarkably higher (P < 0.05). There exhibited no remarkable difference in the level of APPT on the 3rd day before operation and on the 3rd day after operation, but on the 7th day and 14th day after operation, the level of APPT in the study group was remarkably higher (P < 0.05). The level of APPT in the study group was remarkably higher (P < 0.05). There exhibited no remarkable difference in the level of plasma D-dimer before operation (P > 0.05). The level of plasma D-dimer in the study group was lower (P < 0.05). In terms of the postoperative ecchymosis area score, the ecchymosis area score decreased remarkably after operation. Furthermore, the ecchymosis area score of the study group was remarkably lower (P < 0.05). In terms of the swelling degree of the affected limb, there exhibited no remarkable difference in thigh circumference and calf circumference before operation (P > 0.05), but after operation, the thigh circumference difference and calf circumference difference decreased, and the thigh circumference difference and calf circumference difference in the study group were lower (P < 0.05). The incidence of DVT in the study group was 16.67%, while that in the control group was 38.10%. No PE occurred in the two groups at the early stage after operation. There were 3 cases of incision ecchymosis, 1 case of bleeding event (incision oozing) in the study group, 11 cases of incisional ecchymosis, and 2 cases of bleeding event in the control group. In 3 patients with incisional bleeding, there were no obvious abnormalities in routine blood examination and blood coagulation indexes. The patients were given wound pressure bandaging and stopped using anticoagulants and changing wound dressings every day, all of which disappeared within 5 days. The incidence of early postoperative DVT and bleeding complications in the study group was lower (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Rivaroxaban combined with D-dimer dynamic monitoring has high clinical value in preventing DVT after knee arthroplasty and can effectively reduce the amount of blood loss during operation and the incidence of postoperative DVT, PE, and bleeding complications, which is worth popularizing to reduce the area of ecchymosis and the degree of pain after operation and shorten the recovery process.

Association between brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in different age groups

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Rivaroxaban: Expanded Role in Cardiovascular Disease Management-A Literature Review

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used for the prevention of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and as prophylaxis after hip and knee surgery after approval by the Food and Drug Administration. In the last decade, DOACs were studied for various indications; this review is focused on rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, which is used in an expanded evidence-based fashion for coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, malignancy, and prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis in acute medical illnesses.

Reducing residual thrombotic risk in patients with peripheral artery disease: impact of the COMPASS trial

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at a high risk not only for the classical cardiovascular (CV) outcomes (major adverse cardiovascular events; MACE) but also for vascular limb events (major adverse limb events; MALE). Therefore, a comprehensive approach for these patients should include both goals. However, the traditional antithrombotic approach with only antiplatelet agents (single or dual antiplatelet therapy) does not sufficiently reduce the risk of recurrent thrombotic events. Importantly, the underlying cause of atherosclerosis in patients with PAD implies both platelet activation and the initiation and promotion of coagulation cascade, in which Factor Xa plays a key role. Therefore, to reduce residual vascular risk, it is necessary to address both targets. In the Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) trial that included patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease, the rivaroxaban plus aspirin strategy (versus aspirin) markedly reduced the risk of both CV and limb outcomes, and related complications, with a good safety profile. In fact, the net clinical benefit outcome composed of MACE; MALE, including major amputation, and fatal or critical organ bleeding was significantly reduced by 28% with the COMPASS strategy, (hazard ratio: 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.59-0.87). Therefore, the rivaroxaban plus aspirin approach provides comprehensive protection and should be considered for most patients with PAD at high risk of such events.