Periprocedural anticoagulation in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: time to reassess?

Non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) are responsible for almost 1 million admissions in the U.S. annually (1), and represent a spectrum of clinical conditions ranging from unstable angina (UA) to non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The most important cause is intraluminal thrombosis due to atherosclerotic plaque rupture, which impairs distal blood flow and may lead to myocardial ischemia or infarction.