Antithrombotic Therapy during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Ischemic complications of percutaneous coronary intervention occur commonly and are among the major limitations of the procedure. Both platelets and thrombin play an essential role in the response to the arterial injury that follows coronary intervention and in the pathophysiology of the ischemic complications of the procedure. Aspirin and heparin are essential treatments for the patient undergoing coronary intervention. Novel thrombin and platelet inhibitors are being developed that may be useful for improving both acute and long-term clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention.