Antiplatelet use in interventional cardiology

Thrombosis within the target vessel is one of the most feared complications associated with coronary intervention, as it is often associated with seve re adverse clinical sequelae. This thrombosis is mediated via the activatio n and aggregation of platelets and therefore considerable effort has been d irected at ways of inhibiting platelet function. It is now mandatory to con sider the use of two and often three different antiplatelet agents, particu larly when intracoronary stents are inserted. Using these regimes, many of the adverse clinical outcomes associated with platelet activation can be re duced.