Anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Radial access for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to be associated with better outcomes compared with femoral access. However, it is unknown whether bivalirudin would offer any further benefit when compared with unfractionated heparin for PCI with radial access. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted for randomized trials comparing bivalirudin with unfractionated heparin in patients undergoing PCI with a radial access...

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) induces thrombin generation and is associated with the risk of acute, subacute, or long-term ischaemic events. Therefore, intravenous anticoagulation is recommended to minimize thrombotic complications. The intensity and duration of anticoagulation needed are dependent on the clinical presentation (elective PCI for stable coronary artery disease, PCI for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes, or primary PCI for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) and procedural features...

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The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness and safety of anticoagulation to antiplatelet therapy for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies published through May 31, 2014. Randomized controlled trials comparing anticoagulants (warfarin) and antiplatelet therapy in patients with AF were included. The primary outcomes were the rates of stroke and systemic embolism...