Current Perioperative Management of Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Use in Neuroendovascular Therapy: Analysis of JR-NET1 and 2

To evaluate current perioperative antithrombotic management in neuroendovascular therapy in Japan, we analyzed perioperative anticoagulant and antiplatelet use in various procedures and examined their relationships with periprocedural adverse events. Patient's data from nationwide surveys administered by the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy (JR-NET) between January 2005 and December 2007 (JR-NET1) and January 2008 and December 2009 (JR-NET2) were retrospectively analyzed. Compared to JR-NET1, the frequency of perioperative antiplatelet therapy and dual or triple therapy were increased for either aneurysm coiling and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stenting in JR-NET2. Although ischemic complications were significantly decreased (4.2% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), hemorrhagic complications (2.1% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001), severe adverse events (1.5% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), and total perioperative complications (8.3% vs. 10.3%, p < 0.001) were significantly increased in JR-NET2. The rate of hemorrhagic complications was significantly higher in patients with triple or more perioperative antiplatelet therapy (preoperative: 5.3% vs. 9.2%, p < 0.0001, postoperative: 5.7% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.0001). Perioperative antithrombotic therapy was performed more frequently and intensively in neuroendovascular therapy in Japan. While ischemic complications were decreased, hemorrhagic complications and severe adverse events were increased. These results suggest that intensive antithrombotic therapy has a potential risk of hemorrhagic complications for Japanese patients.