An Overview of Research for the Application of a Novel Biofilm-Preventing Surgical Irrigation System for Total Joint Arthroplasty Procedures in Order to Reduce the Risk of Periprosthetic Infection.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious postoperative complication in joint arthroplasty procedures that carries substantial morbidity and mortality associated with it. Several strategies have been developed both in the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative periods to both combat and prevent the development of this devastating complication. Intraoperative irrigation is an important modality used during arthroplasty procedures prior to the implantation of final components that seeks to eradicate any biofilm formation. In this updated review, we discuss the XPERIENCE™ Advanced Surgical Irrigation solution (Next Science, Jacksonville, Florida) and the various completed, ongoing, and planned basic science and clinical investigations associated with it. Although there is already an impressive body of literature supporting its widespread utilization, future basic and clinical trials will continue to be performed to comprehensively characterize the effect this antimicrobial solution has on eliminating the risk of PJI following arthroplasty procedures.

Inhalation Injury: Which Providers Can Assess the Need for Intubation?

Previous studies have suggested that many burn patients undergo unnecessary intubation due to concern for inhalation injury. We hypothesized that burn surgeons would intubate burn patients at a lower rate than non-burn acute care surgeons (ACSs). We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients admitted to an American Burn Association-verified burn center who presented emergently following burn injury from June 2015 to December 2021. Patients excluded include polytrauma patients, isolated friction burns, and patients intubated prior to hospital arrival. Our primary outcome was intubation rates between burn and non-burn ACSs. 388 patients met inclusion criteria. 240 (62%) patients were evaluated by a burn provider and 148 (38%) were evaluated by a non-burn provider; the groups were well-matched. In total, 73 (19%) of patients underwent intubation. There was no difference in the rate of emergent intubation, diagnosis of inhalation injury on bronchoscopy, time to extubation, or incidence of extubation within 48 hours between burn and non-burn ACSs. We found no difference between burn and non-burn ACSs in the airway evaluation and management of burn patients. Surgical providers with acute care surgery backgrounds and Advanced Trauma Life Support training are well-equipped for initial airway management in burn patients. Further studies should seek to compare other types of provider groups to identify opportunities for intervention and education in preventing unnecessary intubations.

Cross-Border Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Burn Patients.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem worldwide, with differences in regional resistance patterns partially driven by local variance in antibiotic stewardship. Trauma patients transferring from Mexico have more AMR than those injured in the United States; we hypothesized a similar pattern would be present for burn patients. Patients and Methods: The registry of an American Burn Association (ABA)-verified burn center was queried for all admissions for burn injury January 2015 through December 2019 with hospital length-of-stay (LOS) longer than seven days. Patients were divided into two groups based upon burn location: United States (USA) or Mexico (MEX). All bacterial infections were analyzed. Results: A total of 73 MEX and 826 USA patients were included. Patients had a similar mean age (40.4 years MEX vs. 42.2 USA) and gender distribution (69.6% male vs. 64.4%). The MEX patients had larger median percent total body surface area burned (%TBSA; 11.1% vs. 4.3%; p ≤ 0.001) and longer hospital LOS (18.0 vs. 13.0 days; p = 0.028). The MEX patients more often had respiratory infections (16.4% vs. 7.4%; p = 0.046), whereas rates of other infections were similar. The MEX patients had higher rates of any resistant organism (47.2% of organisms MEX vs. 28.1% USA; p = 0.013), and were more likely to have resistant infections on univariable analysis; however, on multivariable analysis country of burn was no longer significant. Conclusions: Antimicrobial resistance is more common in burn patients initially burned in Mexico than those burned in the United States, but location was not a predictor of resistance compared to other traditional burn-related factors. Continuing to monitor for AMR regardless of country of burn remains critical.

Methamphetamine Use is Associated with Increased Surgical Site Infections after Trauma Laparotomy.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine (METH) use causes significant vasoconstriction, which can be severe enough to cause bowel ischemia. Methamphetamines have also been shown to alter the immune response. These effects could predispose METH users to poor wound healing, increased infections, and other post-operative complications. We hypothesized that METH users would have longer length of stay and higher rates of complications compared to non-METH users. METHODS: The trauma registry for our urban Level 1 trauma center was searched for patients that received an exploratory laparotomy from 2016 to 2019. A total 204 patients met criteria and 52 (25.5%) were METH positive. Length of stay (LOS), ventilator days, abbreviated injury scale (AIS), and wound class were compared using nonparametric statistics. Age and injury severity score (ISS) were compared using a Student's t-test. A Chi Square or Fisher's Exact test was used to compare sex, mechanism of injury, and rates of infectious complications. RESULTS: Methamphetamine-positive patients had a significantly higher rate of surgical site infections (7.4% versus 0%, P = 0.001). Patients that developed surgical site infection had equivalent rates of smoking and diabetes, as well as equivalent abdominal AIS and wound class compared to those who did not develop surgical site infection. Hospital and ICU LOS, ventilator days, ISS, and mortality were equivalent between METH positive and negative patients. Rates of other infectious complications were the same between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Methamphetamine use is associated with an increased rate of surgical site infection after trauma laparotomy. Other serious complications and mortality were not affected by METH use.

Electronic Cigarette-Related Injuries Presenting to Five Large Burn Centers, 2015-2019.

Electronic cigarettes are advertised as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes yet cause serious injury. U.S. burn centers have witnessed a rise in both inpatient and outpatient visits to treat thermal injuries related to their use. A multicenter retrospective chart review of American Burn Association burn registry data from five large burn centers was performed from January 2015 to July 2019 to identify patients with electronic cigarette-related injuries. A total of 127 patients were identified. Most sustained less than 10% total body surface area burns (mean 3.8%). Sixty-six percent sustained second-degree burns. Most patients (78%) were injured while using their device. Eighteen percent of patients reported spontaneous device combustion. Two patients were injured while changing their device battery, and two were injured modifying their device. Three percent were injured by secondhand mechanism. Burn injury was the most common injury pattern (100%), followed by blast injury (3.93%). Flame burns were the most common (70%) type of thermal injury; however, most patients sustained a combination-type injury secondary to multiple burn mechanisms. The most injured body region was the extremities. Silver sulfadiazine was the most common agent used in the initial management of thermal injuries. Sixty-three percent of patients did not require surgery. Of the 36% requiring surgery, 43.4% required skin grafting. Multiple surgeries were uncommon. Our data recognize electronic cigarette use as a public health problem with the potential to cause thermal injury and secondary trauma. Most patients are treated on an inpatient basis although most patients treated on an outpatient basis have good outcomes.

Predictors of retained hemothorax in trauma: Results of an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional trial.

BACKGROUND: The natural history of traumatic hemothorax (HTX) remains unclear. We aimed to describe outcomes of HTX following tube thoracostomy drainage and to delineate factors that predict progression to a retained hemothorax (RH). We hypothesized that initial large-volume HTX predicts the development of an RH. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational, multi-institutional study of adult trauma patients diagnosed with an HTX identified on computed tomography (CT) scan with volumes calculated at time of diagnosis. All patients were managed with tube thoracostomy drainage within 24 hours of presentation. Retained hemothorax was defined as blood-density fluid identified on follow-up CT scan or need for additional intervention after initial tube thoracostomy placement for HTX. RESULTS: A total of 369 patients who presented with an HTX initially managed with tube thoracostomy drainage were enrolled from 17 trauma centers. Retained hemothorax was identified in 106 patients (28.7%). Patients with RH had a larger median (interquartile range) HTX volume on initial CT compared with no RH (191 [48-431] mL vs. 88 [35-245] mL, p = 0.013) and were more likely to be older with a higher burden of thoracic injury. After controlling for significant differences between groups, RH was independently associated with a larger HTX on presentation, with a 15% increase in risk of RH for each additional 100 mL of HTX on initial CT imaging (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.21; p < 0.001). Patients with an RH also had higher rates of pneumonia and longer hospital length of stay than those with successful initial management. Retained hemothorax was also associated with worse functional outcomes at discharge and first outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSION: Larger initial HTX volumes are independently associated with RH, and unsuccessful initial management with tube thoracostomy is associated with worse patient outcomes. Future studies should use this experience to assess a range of options for reducing the risk of unsuccessful initial management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management study, level III.

Ultrasound-Guided Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Cryoneurolysis for Analgesia in Patients With Burns.

Autologous skin grafting from the thigh is frequently required for treatment of burns and is associated with intense pain at the donor site. Local anesthetic-based (LA) nerve blocks of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) have been demonstrated to provide analgesia when the graft is taken from the lateral thigh. However, the duration of these single injection blocks has been reported to average only 9 hours, whereas the pain from the procedure lasts days or weeks. Continuous LA nerve blocks can also be used to provide analgesia during serial debridement of burns, although this requires placement of a perineural catheter which may increase infection risk in a population with an increased susceptibility to infection. Cryoneurolysis of the LFCN can potentially provide analgesia of the lateral thigh for skin graft harvesting or serial burn debridement that lasts far longer than conventional LA nerve blocks. Here, we present a series of three patients who received a combination of a LA nerve block and cryoneurolysis nerve block of the LFCN for analgesia of the lateral thigh. Two of these patients had the blocks placed before harvesting a split thickness skin graft. The third received the blocks for outpatient wound care of a burn to the lateral thigh. In all cases, the resulting analgesia lasted more than 1 week. A single cryoneurolysis block of the LFCN successfully provided extended duration analgesia of the lateral thigh for autologous skin graft donor site or wound care of a burn in three patients.

Anti-Xa guided enoxaparin dose adjustment improves pharmacologic deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis in burn patients.

INTRODUCTION: Patients recovering from burn injury are at high risk of developing deep venous thrombosis (DVT). While 30-mg twice-daily enoxaparin is accepted as the standard prophylactic dose, recent evidence in injured patients suggests this dosing strategy may result in sub-optimal pharmacologic DVT prophylaxis. We hypothesized that standard enoxaparin dosing would result in inadequate DVT prophylaxis in burn patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of an ABA-verified Burn center's registry from January 2012 - December 2016 identified patients with peak plasma anti-Xa levels to monitor the efficacy of pharmacologic DVT prophylaxis. Patients ≥18 years old were included if they received at least 3 doses of enoxaparin and had appropriately timed peak anti-Xa levels. We analyzed data including patient demographics, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and total body surface area burn (TBSA). Diagnosis of DVT was collected. RESULTS: During the study period, 393 patients were screened with a plasma anti-Xa levels. Of the 157 patients that met inclusion criteria, 81 (51.6%) achieved target peak plasma anti-Xa levels (0.2-0.4 IU/mL) on standard 30-mg twice-daily prophylactic enoxaparin and 76 (48.4%) had sub-prophylactic levels. Sub-prophylactic patients were more likely to be male, have increased body weight and elevated BMI. 49 of the 76 sub-prophylactic patients received a dose-adjustment in order to reach target anti-Xa levels; 37 patients required 40mg twice-daily, 10 required 50mg twice-daily and 2 required 60mg twice-daily. The overall DVT rate was 3.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The current recommended prophylactic dose of 30-mg twice-daily enoxaparin is inadequate in many burn patients. Alternate dosing strategies should be considered to increase the number of burn patients achieving target prophylactic anti-Xa levels. Determining whether prophylactic enoxaparin dose adjustment decreases DVT rates in burn injured patients should be evaluated in future prospective trials.

Compliant Buckled Foam Actuators and Application in Patient-Specific Direct Cardiac Compression.

We introduce the use of buckled foam for soft pneumatic actuators. A moderate amount of residual compressive strain within elastomer foam increases the applied force ∼1.4 × or stroke ∼2 × compared with actuators without residual strain. The origin of these improved characteristics is explained analytically. These actuators are applied in a direct cardiac compression (DCC) device design, a type of implanted mechanical circulatory support that avoids direct blood contact, mitigating risks of clot formation and stroke. This article describes a first step toward a pneumatically powered, patient-specific DCC design by employing elastomer foam as the mechanism for cardiac compression. To form the device, a mold of a patient's heart was obtained by 3D printing a digitized X-ray computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan into a solid model. From this model, a soft, robotic foam DCC device was molded. The DCC device is compliant and uses compressed air to inflate foam chambers that in turn apply compression to the exterior of a heart. The device is demonstrated on a porcine heart and is capable of assisting heart pumping at physiologically relevant durations (∼200 ms for systole and ∼400 ms for diastole) and stroke volumes (∼70 mL). Although further development is necessary to produce a fully implantable device, the material and processing insights presented here are essential to the implementation of a foam-based, patient-specific DCC design.

The Unrecognized Epidemic of Electronic Cigarette Burns.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine as an inhaled aerosol. They originated from China in 2007 and their use has rapidly increased worldwide in the past decade, yet they remain largely unregulated. Reports of injuries associated with their use have appeared as unusual events in the news media and as case reports in the medical literature. This study was undertaken to explore e-cigarettes as a mechanism of burn injury. Referral records to three burn centers from January 2007 to July 2016 were searched to identify patients with injuries caused by e-cigarettes. Data were gathered from the electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients referred within the most recent 18 months. Thirty patients with burns resulting from e-cigarettes were identified. Twenty-nine were referred within the most recent 18 months. Only one was referred in the preceding 8 years. An explosion was identified by the patient as the inciting event in 26 of the 30 injuries (87%). Explosion of an isolated battery while it was carried on personal attire was reported in 10 cases. Explosion of a fully assembled e-cigarette was described in 16 cases. In seven of these 16 cases, the explosion occurred while the device was idle and carried on personal attire. In the other nine cases, the explosion occurred while the device was being operated. No injury occurred while batteries were charging. The mean age of injured patients was 30 years. The mean size of burn was 4% TBSA. The thighs, hands, and genitalia were the most common sites of injury. Twenty-six patients required hospital admission and nine required surgery. Serious burn injuries from e-cigarettes have recently occurred with greatly increased frequency. The increase in injuries appears out of proportion to the increased popularity of e-cigarettes. The most common pattern of injury is explosion when either the idle device or its batteries are carried on personal attire.

Monitoring Neutrophil-Expressed Cell Surface Esophageal Cancer Related Gene-4 after Severe Burn Injury.

BACKGROUND: We identified recently esophageal cancer related gene-4 (ECRG4) as a candidate cytokine that is expressed on the surface of quiescent polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and shed in response to ex vivo treatment with lipopolysaccharide. To investigate the potential biologic relevance of changes in cell surface ECRG4 in human samples, we performed a pilot study to examine a population of burn patients in whom blood could be analyzed prospectively. We hypothesized that cutaneous burn injury would alter cell surface expression of ECRG4 on PMNs. METHODS: Patients admitted with more than 20% total burn surface area (TBSA) (n = 10) had blood collected at the time of admission and weekly thereafter. For comparison, blood was obtained from a control group of healthy human volunteers (n = 4). We used flow cytometry to measure changes in ECRG4(+) PMNs from patients during recovery from injury. Esophageal cancer related gene-4 expression at each time point was compared with the patient's clinical status based on a Multiple Organ Dysfunction (MOD) score. RESULTS: Esophageal cancer related gene-4 was detected on the PMN surface of cells collected from healthy volunteers, however, within 48 h of admission after burn injury (n = 10 patients), the number of PMNs with cell surface ECRG4 was decreased. Esophageal cancer related gene-4 expression in PMNs was re-established over the course of patient recovery, unless complications occurred. In this case, the decrease in cell surface ECRG4(+) PMNs preceded the clinical diagnosis of infectious complications and was reflected by increased organ injury scores. CONCLUSION: From a small sample set, we were able to determine that PMN cell surface ECRG4 expression was decreased after burn injury and returned to baseline during recovery from injury. Although larger studies are needed to define the role of ECRG4 in human PMNs further, this report is the first assessment of cell surface ECRG4 protein in a patient population to support analogous findings in animal studies.

Determining injuries from posterior and flank stab wounds using computed tomography tractography.

Unlike anterior stab wounds (SW), in which local exploration may direct management, posterior SW can be challenging to evaluate. Traditional triple contrast computed tomography (CT) imaging is cumbersome and technician-dependent. The present study examines the role of CT tractography as a strategy to manage select patients with back and flank SW. Hemodynamically stable patients with back and flank SW were studied. After resuscitation, Betadine- or Visipaque®-soaked sterile sponges were inserted into each SW for the estimated depth of the wound. Patients underwent abdominal helical CT scanning, including intravenous contrast, as the sole abdominal imaging study. Images were reviewed by an attending radiologist and trauma surgeon. The tractogram was evaluated to determine SW trajectory and injury to intra- or retroperitoneal organs, vascular structures, the diaphragm, and the urinary tract. Complete patient demographics including operative management and injuries were collected. Forty-one patients underwent CT tractography. In 11 patients, tractography detected violation of the intra- or retroperitoneal cavity leading to operative exploration. Injuries detected included: the spleen (two), colon (one), colonic mesentery (one), kidney (kidney), diaphragm (kidney), pneumothorax (seven), hemothorax (two), iliac artery (one), and traumatic abdominal wall hernia (two). In all patients, none had negative CT findings that failed observation. In this series, CT tractography is a safe and effective imaging strategy to evaluate posterior torso SW. It is unknown whether CT tractography is superior to traditional imaging modalities. Other uses for CT tractography may include determining trajectory from missile wounds and tangential penetrating injuries.

Computerized insulin infusion programs are safe and effective in the burn intensive care unit.

Glucose control has repeatedly been shown to influence favorable outcomes in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU). Intensive insulin therapy has recently been associated with reduced infections complications in burn patients. However, traditional protocols are associated with rates of severe hypoglycemia as high as 19%. Two commercial computer glucose control programs have reported rates of severe hypoglycemia (glucose <50 mg/dl) of 0.6 and 0.4%. Recently, the authors' burn ICU adopted an intensive insulin computer-based protocol created at their institution and already successfully in use in their surgical ICU. The authors hypothesized that their protocol can be used effectively in the burn patient population without an increase risk of severe hypoglycemia. All patients admitted to the burn ICU have blood glucose (BG) values checked routinely. With two consecutive hyperglycemic values >200 mg/dl, patients are placed on a computer-based protocol intravenous insulin drip. Once initiated, BGs are tested hourly with adjustments made according to the computer protocol. Values recorded from January to December 2008 were abstracted from the database and analyzed. Thirty-one patients were treated using the computer glucose control protocol and 12,699 measurements were performed. There were eight measurements <50 mg/dl (0.07%). Seventy-six percent of values were within the target range of 90 to 150 mg/dl. Few patients had severe hyperglycemia with BG >300 mg/dl (0.2%). There were no adverse events associated with the hypoglycemic episode. The computer-based protocol is more effective than those previously used at the institution and provides safe, reliable results in the burn patients.

Gastric trichobezoar causing intermittent small bowel obstruction: report of a case and review of the literature.

We report the unusual case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with multiple episodes of small bowel obstruction. Initial exploratory lap-roscopy did not reveal an etiology of the obstruction. Subsequent upper endoscopy identified a non-obstructing gastric trichobezoar which could not be removed endoscopically but was not thought to be responsible for the small bowel obstruction given its location. One week postoperatively, the patient experienced recurrence of small bowel obstruction. Repeat endoscopy disclosed that the trichobezoar was no longer located in the stomach and upon repeat laparotomy was extracted from the mid-jejunum. In the following 8 months, the patient had no further episodes of small bowel obstruction. Consequently, gastric bezoars should be included in the differential diagnosis of recurrent small bowel obstruction.

The unrecognized danger of a new transportation mechanism of injury--pedicabs.

OBJECTIVE: Pedicabs are a new and controversial transportation innovation for tourists in congested areas in several U.S. cities. Scant literature on this trauma mechanism exists. The purpose of this study is to identify the incidence, demographics, morbidity, mortality, and potential for injury prevention of pedicab incidents amongst major trauma admissions at an urban, academic Level I Trauma Center. PATIENTS & METHODS: Researchers conducted a retrospective review of the Trauma Registry from 2000 to 2009. All patients identified as being injured in a pedicab incident were reviewed. Demographics, diagnoses, toxicology, treatments, and injury severity scale (ISS) were collected. Outcomes included mortality, ICU, and hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and hospital charges. A photographic survey of 50 local pedicabs was examined for the presence and use of safety equipment. RESULTS: During the period of January 2000 to July 2009 there were 15 major trauma victims from identified pedicab incidents. Falling from the pedicab was the mechanism of injury in 14 of 15 cases. There were two fatalities in victims following severe traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injury, skull fracture, or loss of consciousness was seen in 11/15 victims. Ethanol ingestion was detected in blood tests of 10 of the 14 adult victims. Median charges of hospitalization due to a pedicab related injury was US$29,956 ± 77,482. A photographic survey of 50 local pedicabs reveals very limited use of safety belts by passengers despite existing city ordinances. CONCLUSIONS: Major trauma victims of pedicab incidents in the United States suffer significant injuries and death. Most cases occurred in passengers falling from the pedicab at night after alcohol ingestion. There is an opportunity for implementation of strategies toward improved injury prevention with this new form of transport.

Combat versus civilian open tibia fractures: the effect of blast mechanism on limb salvage.

BACKGROUND: This study compares open tibia fractures in US Navy and US Marine Corps casualties from the current conflicts with those from a civilian Level I trauma center to analyze the effect of blast mechanism on limb-salvage rates. METHODS: Data from the 28,646 records in the University of California San Diego Trauma Registry from 1985 to 2006 was compared with 2,282 records from the US Navy and US Marine Corps Combat Trauma Registry Expeditionary Medical Encounter Database for the period of March 2004 to August 2007. Injuries were categorized by Gustilo-Anderson (G-A) open fracture classification. Independent variables included age, gender, mechanism of injury including blast mechanisms, shock, blood loss, prehospital time, procedures, Injury Severity Score, length of stay, and Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS). Dependent variables included early or late amputation and mortality. RESULTS: The civilian group had 850 open tibia fractures with 45 amputations; the military group had 21 amputation patients (3 bilateral) in 115 open tibia fractures. Military group patients were more severely injured, more likely have hypotension, and had a higher amputation rate for G-A IIIB and IIIC fractures then civilian group patients. Blast mechanism was seen in the majority of military group patients and was rare in the civilian group. MESS scores had poor sensitivity (0.46, 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.64) in predicting the need for amputation in the civilian group; in the military group sensitivity was better (0.67, 95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.85), but successful limb salvage was still possible in most cases with an MESS score of ≥7 when attempted. CONCLUSION: Despite current therapy, limb salvage for G-A IIIB and IIIC grades are significantly worse for open tibia fractures as a result of blast injury when compared with typical civilian mechanisms. MESS scores do not adequately predict likelihood of limb salvage in combat or civilian open tibia fractures.

A new clopidogrel (Plavix) point-of-care assay: rapid determination of antiplatelet activity in trauma patients.

INTRODUCTION: An increasing proportion of trauma patients are on anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. Unlike warfarin, where measuring international normalized ratio can help direct management, measuring platelet inhibition from clopidogrel (Plavix) is not standardized. We report the use of a new P2Y12 point-of-care assay (VerifyNow; Accumetrics, San Diego, CA) to determine the magnitude of platelet inhibition in trauma patients using clopidogrel. METHODS: Trauma patients in 2009 were queried for clopidogrel use by prehospital personnel and the trauma team. Blood was obtained on admission for patients reportedly taking clopidogrel and was assayed for platelet inhibition using the VerfiyNow-P2Y12 device that measures P2Y12 reaction units and photometrically determines platelet inhibition percentage within 30 minutes. Patient demographics including age, Injury Severity Score, mechanism of injury, and complications from hemorrhage were also analyzed. RESULTS: In the time studied, 46 patients taking clopidogrel were assayed for platelet inhibition. The mean age was 75.9 years±11.8 years, and the most common mechanism of injury was fall (86.9%). Platelet inhibition ranged from 0% to 89%. There were no deaths, and only two patients, from the 0% and>30% inhibition group, had hemorrhagic complications (increased intracranial hemorrhage). CONCLUSIONS: The P2Y12 point-of-care assay determined that a large percentage of patients had undetectable or low platelet inhibition despite reportedly being on clopidogrel therapy. These patients may be clopidogrel nonresponders or noncompliant. It is unlikely that clopidogrel reversal therapies, such as platelet transfusions or Desmopressin, would be beneficial in this group. Further studies stratifying the percent platelet inhibition needed to increase bleeding complications is warranted to optimize management strategies.