A Novel Use of Direct Platelet Application During Surgery for Clopidogrel-Associated Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: Dual antiplatelet therapy is associated with increased rates of intracerebral hemorrhage, especially in the context of subarachnoid hemorrhage. We present a case of a spontaneous hemorrhage in a patient treated with a Pipeline stent for a ruptured dissecting vertebrobasilar aneurysm and the novel use of direct application of platelets during surgery to control bleeding. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 54-year-old previously healthy woman presented with an intradural right vertebral artery dissection with a ruptured 6-mm pseudoaneurysm. The patient was started on aspirin and clopidogrel and the vessel was reconstructed with 2 Pipeline Embolization Devices. On postbleed day number 14, she became obtunded with a blown right pupil; computed tomography of the head demonstrated a large right temporal intracerebral hematoma. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room for evacuation of the clot. Intra-operatively, satisfactory control of bleeding was not achieved despite transfusing several units of platelets intravenously. Ultimately, a mixture of Floseal and platelets applied directly to the hematoma wall allowed prompt hemostasis. At 3 months the patient was doing extremely well clinically and angiography demonstrated occlusion of the aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported description of direct application of platelets to achieve intraoperative hemostasis. Platelets are activated by thrombin and collagen and the use of Floseal (a bovine-derived, gelatin matrix and human-derived thrombin) further potentiated the effectiveness of this strategy. With the increased incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage associated with dual antiplatelet therapy, this technique may provide a useful tool in the neurosurgical armamentarium.