Author(s)

Eric Marvin^*, Aaron Danison, Greg Davis, Zev Elias, Gary Simonds

Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.

Background: Widespread use of antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications (APACs) can be a difficult challenge in the presence of a neurosurgical emergency. Premorbid use of APACs, particularly clopidogrel, has been shown to affect outcomes in patients with stroke and traumatic brain injury. Objective: We hypothesized that pre-morbid clopidogrel use in patients with intracranial hemorrhage necessitating surgical intervention would lead to a greater risk of death and need for re-operation than those taking other APACs. Methods: Retrospective single institution review was conducted from January, 2010 through November, 2012 for intracranial hemorrhages necessitating surgical evacuation. Acute, subacute and chronic subdural, epidural and intraparenchymal hemorrhages were included. Results: 185 of 410 patients that required surgery for intracranial hemorrhage were on APACs. Overall mortality rate was 33%, with a 37% mortality rate in the APAC group. Overall reoperation rate was 7.5%, and 13% in the APAC group. Chi-square testing demonstrated significance between mortality and clopidogrel use (p = 0.0038), but not in APAC, warfarin or aspirin groups. There was statistical significance between the need for reoperation and APAC use (p = 0.002), aspirin use (p = 0.0097), and clopidogrel use (p = 0.0152), but not warfarin. Multivariate regression demonstrated only clopidogrel use is associated with higher mortality (p = 0.05) and need for reoperation (p = 0.0206). Conclusion: APAC use in the setting of intracranial hemorrhage necessitating surgical evacuation have higher intraoperative blood loss, need for transfusion and risk for adverse cardiac events. Premorbid clopidogrel use is associated with an increased risk in mortality and need for reoperation.

Antiplatelets, Anticoagulation, Clopidgrel, Mortality, Outcomes, Reoperation

Marvin, E. , Danison, A. , Davis, G. , Elias, Z. and Simonds, G. (2014) Premorbid Use of Clopidogrel Portends Worse Outcomes in Patients Treated Surgically for Intracranial Hemorrhage. Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery, 4, 173-180. doi: 10.4236/ojmn.2014.44030.