Objective: Thrombotic complications are increasingly being recognized as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric and congenital heart disease. The objective of this article is to review the medications currently available to prevent and treat such complications.
Data sources: Online searches were conducted using PubMed.
Study selection: Studies were selected for inclusion based on their scientific merit and applicability to the pediatric cardiac population.
Data extraction: Pertinent information from each selected study or scientific review was extracted for inclusion.
Data synthesis: Four classes of medications were identified as potentially beneficial in this patient group: anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, thrombolytic agents, and novel oral anticoagulants. Data on each class of medication were synthesized into the follow sections: mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, dosing, monitoring, reversal, considerations for use, and evidence to support.
Conclusions: Anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and thrombolytic agents are routinely used successfully in the pediatric patient with heart disease for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of thrombotic complications. Although the novel oral anticoagulants have been approved for a limited number of indications in adults, studies on the safety and efficacy of these agents in children are pending.