Description:

Thromboembolism is a multifactorial disease, commonly seen in patients with complex underlying medical conditions. This session will focus on three such complex scenarios, including perinatal stroke, antiphospholipid syndrome, and thrombosis in the setting of mechanical circulatory support.

Unanswered questions and controversies remain in our understanding of the pathogenesis and management of perinatal stroke. Dr. Sarah O’Brien will review the current evidence regarding maternal and fetal risk factors for these complications, as well as therapeutic strategies and early clinical trial work in the fields of perinatal arterial ischemic stroke and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis.

Antiphospholipid antibodies remain an important cause of primary and recurrent thrombosis, as well as recurrent fetal loss. In this presentation, Dr. Keith McCrae will review the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, mechanisms and current approaches to therapy in patients with these enigmatic antibodies. Emphasis will be placed upon recent advances that provide new insights into how these antibodies cause clinical disease.

Dr. Lisa Baumann Kreuziger will review available options for mechanical circulatory support of children and adults with advanced heart failure. She will discuss the risk of bleeding and thrombosis associated with mechanical circulatory support, anticoagulant and anti-platelet therapy strategies, and management options for hemorrhagic and thromboembolic events.