Question

Why is heparin used as an adjunctive medication during reperfusion therapy of STEMI? Select one: O a. Heparin is an anticoagulant that prevents clots during percutaneous coronary intervention b. Heparin is an antiplatelet that prevents platelet aggregation during percutaneous coronary intervention O C. Heparin breaks down clots located in the coronary arteries o d. Heparin reverses the actions of fondaparinux after percutaneous coronary intervention Clear my choice

Answer 1

ANSWER- A. HEPARIN IS USED AS ANTICOAGULANT THAT PREVENTS CLOTS DURING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION.

If primary PCI was performed without addition of a small amount of heparin, a higher rate of coronary complications mainly due to guiding catheter thrombosis was found, without a significant increase in myocardial infarction or death or a negation of the overall benefits.

The patients with fondaparinux showed a higher rate of guiding catheter thrombosis and coronary complications during PCI, if PCI was performed without heparin. Among the patients who received heparin prior to primary PCI, no differences in the rate of death and myocardial infarction, coronary complications, catheter thrombus, and severe bleedings were observed. These indicate that the additional use of heparin with fondaparinux during PCI is safe and avoids thrombotic complications.