Novel Antiplatelet Perioperative Bridging Protocol for Lung Lobectomy: A Case Report

Introduction Some patients with cardiac stents will need thoracic surgery during the dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) period. When surgery cannot be safely delayed to allow 1 year of uninterrupted DAPT, appropriate perioperative management of anticoagulation is critical. Case presentation A patient treated with new drug-eluting stents and DAPT was concomitantly diagnosed with lung cancer and required a lobectomy. We describe the novel addition of ticagrelor (a short-acting oral antiplatelet agent) to eptifibatide (a short-acting intravenous antiplatelet agent) to bridge DAPT for surgery. Discussion This ticagrelor-eptifibatide perioperative bridge resulted in decreased preoperative hospitalization compared with eptifibatide alone. There were no associated perioperative cardiac or bleeding complications.