Antithrombotic therapy following lower extremity endovascular revascularization: The results of a survey of vascular specialists.

OBJECTIVE

Antithrombotic therapy improves endovascular intervention outcomes for peripheral artery disease. However, there are limited data guiding the choice and duration of these adjuvant therapies. Thus, we explored current antithrombotic prescribing preferences among vascular interventionalists, hypothesizing that there are varied and inconsistent treatment practices among providers.

METHODS

We developed and distributed a de-identified RedCap survey via Twitter and email to Vascular Quality Initiative members (February 2023). Multiple-choice questions queried antithrombotic agents and treatment durations for a clinical vignette (a claudicant on 81 mg aspirin and statin) with different arterial disease locations (iliac, femoropopliteal, or tibial vessels) and different revascularization strategies (angioplasty or stenting, with and without drug-coating). Antithrombotic options included monotherapies with antiplatelet agents or low-dose rivaroxaban; dual therapies with aspirin combined with a P2Y12 inhibitor (dual antiplatelet therapy, DAPT) or low-dose rivaroxaban (dual pathway inhibition or DPI); or triple therapy with aspirin, a P2Y12 inhibitor, and low-dose rivaroxaban. Options for therapy duration included 30, 90, 180, and 365 days, or indefinitely.

RESULTS

There were 199 respondents (17% female, 68% White race, 63% academic, 88% vascular surgery). Across all treatment scenarios, respondents selected DAPT (n = 171/199; 86%) in at least one revascularization scenario, followed by aspirin monotherapy (n = 83/199; 42%) and DPI (n = 49/199; 25%). Therapy choice did differ by both anatomic location and revascularization strategy ( < .05). DAPT was most selected following femoropopliteal revascularization (n = 165/199, 83%) and bare metal stenting (n = 162/198, 82%). However, aspirin monotherapy was most selected following iliac level revascularization (n = 52/197; 26%) and following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty at any level (n = 51/182; 28%). DPI was most selected following tibial revascularization (n = 39/184; 21%) and following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 38/182; 21%). Among those who selected DAPT, the 90-day (n = 99/171; 58%) duration was preferred. Those who selected DPI favored indefinite treatment durations (n = 34/49; 69%). Indefinite DAPT and DPI therapy were more commonly selected for distal level revascularization ( < .05). Rivaroxaban utilization was limited secondary to cost (n = 108/178; 61%), lack of demonstrated effectiveness (n = 75/178; 42%), and concern for safety and bleeding (n = 27/178; 15%).

CONCLUSIONS

Following lower extremity endovascular treatment of peripheral artery disease, a 90-day duration of DAPT remains the most commonly selected antithrombotic regimen despite the emergence of DPI as an evidence-based antithrombotic therapy. The variability in provider preferred antithrombotic agent and treatment duration emphasizes the need for high-quality evidence for the medical optimization of revascularization outcomes.