Treatment of Antithrombotic-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage in Adults: A Focused Guideline Update from the Neurocritical Care Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine

Abstract Background Antithrombotic-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a life-threatening condition, and rapid treatment in the setting of antithrombotic agents may limit hematoma expansion and improve outcomes. This focused update evaluated the available evidence after publication of the 2016 guidelines. Methods The Neurocritical Care Society, in conjunction with the Society of Critical Care Medicine, generated five questions to guide a systematic review and meta-analysis. Three of these questions update prior recommendations, while two are newly introduced. Each question followed a Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) framework and focused on the management of acute ICH including spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) and traumatic ICH. The topics addressed were: (1) andexanet alfa versus 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) for treatment of oral factor Xa inhibitor effects; (2) platelet transfusion versus no transfusion for treatment in the setting of antiplatelet agent use; (3) desmopressin versus no desmopressin for treatment in the setting of antiplatelet agent use; (4) treatment of anticoagulant effects versus no treatment in the setting of small IPH; and (5) use of viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) to treat coagulopathy in traumatic ICH. Recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Results The panel generated eight recommendations. For patients with acute ICH, the panel issued the following conditional recommendations: use 4F-PCC rather than andexanet alfa for the treatment of the anticoagulant effects of factor Xa inhibitors, avoid platelet transfusion in non-neurosurgical patients with spontaneous IPH on antiplatelet agents, administer platelet transfusion in patients with spontaneous IPH on aspirin who are undergoing surgery, and use VHAs to guide treatment of coagulopathy in traumatic ICH. The panel was unable to issue recommendations regarding platelet transfusion for treatment of antiplatelet effects in traumatic ICH, use of desmopressin for treatment of antiplatelet effects, or treatment of anticoagulant effects in small IPH. Conclusions The guideline writing panel provided new conditional recommendations for the treatment of antithrombotic-associated acute ICH. These recommendations are intended for consideration along with the patient’s clinical status and patient-specific factors.