Thrombin Generation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

BACKGROUND: The optimal antithrombotic treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) that undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is controversial. Dual therapy (clopidogrel and a direct oral anticoagulant [DOAC]) is safer than triple therapy (warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel), while efficacy is unclear. We aimed to evaluate thrombin generation (TG) under dual and triple therapy. METHODS: A noninterventional prospective trial in patients with AF undergoing PCI. Patients received 4 weeks of triple therapy with aspirin, clopidogrel, and a DOAC followed by aspirin withdrawal. TG was measured in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) at 3 five to 21 points, day 1 after PCI (TIME 0), 4 weeks after PCI (TIME 1), and 2 weeks after aspirin withdrawal (TIME 2). RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (18 men, median age 78 years, 83% with acute coronary syndrome) were included. Endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) in PPP was high at TIME 0 compared with TIME 1 (ETP 3,178 ± 248 nM vs. 2,378 ± 222 nM, p = 0.005). These results remained consistent when measured in PRP. No significant difference in ETP was found before (TIME 1) and after aspirin withdrawal (TIME 2) although few patients had high ETP levels after stopping aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: TG potential is high immediately after PCI and decreases 4 weeks after PCI in patients receiving triple therapy. TG remains constant after aspirin withdrawal in most patients, suggesting that after 1 month the antithrombotic effect of dual therapy may be similar to triple therapy.

[EVALUATION OF THE ELDERLY PATIENT WITH CANCER].

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of adult patients with malignant diseases. These patients are a major therapeutic challenge due to a high incidence of comorbidities, lower functional status and often a diagnosis of the disease at a relatively advanced stage. The preferred approach to the treatment of cancer is a multidisciplinary approach. In the last decade, we have witnessed the integration of geriatricians as part of the multidisciplinary team in order to better assess patients' ability to withstand oncological or surgical treatment and, if necessary, to prepare them better for these treatments. In this article we review the use of various geriatric tools, such as generalized geriatric assessment, fragility and sarcopenia, and their effect on the decision-making process of the treating physicians and on the outcomes of the various treatments, including the outcomes of the operations. We show that comprehensive geriatric assessment is the basis for the evaluation of the adult oncology patients, and proper preparation for treatment in order to improve the outcomes of the treatment and reduce its complications. The rapid growth rate of the elderly population in Israel, together with the continuous development of oncology and cancer treatments, indicate the need to allocate resources and efforts to treat this unique population. We recommend an integration of geriatricians in the multidisciplinary team that treats this population.

[ANEMIA IN PATIENTS AFTER HIP FRACTURE REPAIR SURGERY].

INTRODUCTION: Hip fractures (HF) are common among the elderly. The prevalence increases with age and occurs more frequently among females. Up to 30% mortality rates have been observed during the first year following HF, with or without surgery. Additional implications may include functional and cognitive decline and significant morbidity. Many factors are associated with morbidity and mortality after HF repair surgery, including anemia. Anemia is present in approximately 50% of these patients upon admission to the hospital and its incidence increases further following surgery. The mean reduction in the hemoglobin level after surgery is estimated at 0.7-2.5 g/dL. There are several causes of anemia, some are patient dependent and some are related to the type of fracture and surgery. Anemia has a significant effect on the elderly patient in general, and on the patient's condition post-HF in particular. Anemia on admission is associated with short and long-term mortality, in addition to the length of stay, amount of blood transfusions, repeated hospitalizations, post-operative complications, poor functioning and a reduced quality of life. The most common treatment for anemic patients before and after HF repair surgery is the administration of blood transfusions. It has been common practice to administer blood transfusions when hemoglobin reaches a level of 8g/dL, however the effectiveness of this approach in older patients is not conclusive. Regarding other modalities, i.e., iron, erythropoietin and tranexamic acid, there are currently no clear guidelines in the literature and their effectiveness has not been fully established. Further research is needed to address these issues.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Hip Fracture Patients Hospitalized in an Orthogeriatric Unit Versus an Orthopedic Department: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Hip fractures are a significant health risk in older adults and a major cause of morbidity, functional decline and mortality. Our aim was to compare clinical outcomes of older patients hospitalized in an ortho-geriatric (OG) unit to those hospitalized in an orthopedic department (OD) for surgical treatment of a hip fracture. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of hip fractured patients hospitalized between 2015-2016 in a single tertiary university-affiliated medical center. Included were patients aged 65 and older who had undergone hip fracture surgery and were admitted to either a geriatric or orthopedic ward. RESULTS: 441 patients met the inclusion criteria (195 in the OG unit, 246 in the OD); 257 were transferred to an affiliated geriatric center hospital (107 from the OG unit and 127 from the OD) for rehabilitation. Patients in the OG unit were older, more cognitively and functionally impaired and with more comorbidities. The 1-year mortality rate was significantly lower in the OD group (OR 0.32, CI 95% 0.19-0.53, p < 0.001), however, after propensity matching, the 30-day and 1 year mortality rates were similar in both groups. No difference was found in the rehabilitation length of stay between the groups. The functional independence measure improvement was similar in both groups, with a non-significant trend toward better functional improvement among OG unit patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the higher complexity of patients, worse baseline functional capacity in the OG unit, improvement after rehabilitation was similar in both groups. These results demonstrate the advantages of the OG unit in treating and stabilizing frail older adults, thus maximizing their chances for a successful recovery after hip fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.