A Novel Bridging Strategy for Patients Undergoing Emergent Non-Cardiac Surgery with a Recent Coronary Stent

Introduction: Not infrequently, patients undergoing dual antiplatelet therapy for a recent cardiac stent develop a need for a non-cardiac surgery. Most of these surgeries can be delayed while the antiplatelet treatment is stopped and normal platelet function returns in order to avoid potential surgical complications and excessive bleeding. However, there are a number of patients who require urgent surgery where the procedure cannot be postponed. To date, no agents have been proven to bridge the patient off dual-antiplatelet therapy. Methods: A 46-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. He was urgently taken to the catheterization lab where he was found to have a totally occluded proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). He was successfully stented with a drug-eluting stent of the LAD, but subsequently developed a sarcoma 2 months later that required urgent surgery. The novel direct-acting, reversible P2Y₁₂ receptor inhibitor cangrelor was used to bridge this patient followed by ongoing antiplatelet treatment, allowing surgery for the removal of a soft tissue sarcoma. Results: Cangrelor was successfully used to bridge a patient with a recent stent placement and current antiplatelet treatment undergoing the removal of a soft tissue sarcoma. Conclusion: This case report demonstrates the use of a novel, now currently available, short-acting antiplatelet agent that can be used for bridging patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery who had a recent myocardial infarction and stent placement.