The prophylactic use of tirofiban versus oral antiplatelet medications in stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysms: A meta-analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The protocol for optimal antiplatelet therapy to prevent thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in patients with cerebral aneurysms using an endovascular approach is not clear. PURPOSE: Our study analyzed the safety and efficacy of prophylactic tirofiban administration compared with oral antiplatelet drug therapy. DATA SOURCES: We used the PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library data bases. STUDY SELECTION: Our study consisted of all case series with.5 patients that reported treatment-related outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular procedures pretreated with tirofiban or oral antiplatelet drug therapy. DATA ANALYSIS: Random effects or fixed effects meta-analysis was used to pool the cumulative rate of complications, perioperative mortality, and good clinical outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fifteen studies with 1981 patients were registered. Thromboembolic complications were significantly lower in the tirofiban group (3.6%; 95% CI, 1.9%-5.8%) compared with the dual-antiplatelet therapy group (8.5%, 95% CI, 4.5%-13%; P ¼.04). Pretreatment with tirofiban did not remarkably increase the rate of hemorrhagic complications (3.5%; 95% CI, 1.8%-5.6%) compared with dual-antiplatelet therapy (5.1%; 95% CI, 2.6%-8.5%; P ¼.371). There was a trend toward lower perioperative mortality with tirofiban (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.2%-1.6%) compared with dual-antiplatelet therapy (1.2%; 95% CI, 0.7%-2.0%; P ¼.412). There was no significant difference in the safety and efficacy between the tirofiban bolus plus drip and drip alone. LIMITATIONS: The limitations are selection and publication biases. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic therapy with tirofiban resulted in significantly lower rates of thromboembolic complications with no increase in hemorrhagic events or mortality than the prophylactic use of dual-antiplatelet therapy.