Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors in Prevention and Rescue Treatment of Thromboembolic Complications During Endovascular Embolization of Intracranial Aneurysms. Issue 3 (3rd May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dornbos, David; Katz, Joel S; Youssef, Patrick; Powers, Ciarán J; Nimjee, Shahid M
• Is Part Of: Neurosurgery. Volume 82:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 268
• Page End: 277
• Publication Date: 2017-05-03
• Subjects: Intracranial aneurysm -- Antiplatelet drugs -- Cerebral embolism and thrombosis -- Glycoproteins IIb-IIIa -- GPIIb-IIIa receptors; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.48005
• DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyx170
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-396X

Abstract

Abstract: Thromboembolic complications remain a major risk of endovascular neurosurgery during the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, despite the use of therapeutic heparinization and oral antiplatelet therapy when indicated. Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors target a nonredundant pathway of platelet aggregation following adhesion and activation. Initially established and implemented in the cardiovascular arena, this drug class has provided a new tool in the neurovascular armamentarium as well. Numerous case reports, case series, and retrospective reviews have evaluated the safety and efficacy of abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban in the treatment of acute thromboembolic complications during the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The use of this drug class has also been found to be beneficial as a prophylactic agent, providing ischemia protection during the placement of intracranial stents, flow diverters, and thrombogenic coils in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage and during elective aneurysmal embolization. While the current published literature clearly establishes efficacy and safety of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in the prevention of thromboembolic complications, there does not yet exist an established protocol for their administration in endovascular neurosurgery. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the current published literature pertaining to the use of all available GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors for thromboembolic complications, providing recommendations for dosing and administration of abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban based on previously published rates of efficacy and intracranial hemorrhage.