Preoperative clopidogrel exposure significantly increased the risk of hemostatic reoperations (OR 5.1; 95% CI 2.47-10.47; P<0.01) and blood transfusions during and after off-pump CABG surgery.
Cohort (n=1,572)
Does preoperative clopidogrel administration increase bleeding complications and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery?
Preoperative clopidogrel administration significantly increases the risk of bleeding complications and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing off-pump CABG without affecting operative mortality.
Odds Ratio: 5.1 (95% CI 2.47–10.47)
p-value: p=<0.01
BACKGROUND: Premedication with clopidogrel has reduced thrombotic complications after percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures. However, because of the enhanced and irreversible platelet inhibition by clopidogrel, patients requiring surgical revascularization have a higher risk of bleeding complications and transfusion requirements. A principal benefit of surgical coronary revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is its lower hemorrhagic sequelae. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative clopidogrel administration in the incidence of hemostatic reexploration, blood product transfusion rates, morbidity, and mortality in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery using a large patient sample and a risk-adjusted approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-one patients (17.9%) did and 1291 (82.1%) did not receive clopidogrel before their surgery, for a total of 1572 patients undergoing isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery between January 2000 and June 2002. Risk-adjusted logistic regression analyses and a matched pair analyses by propensity scores were used to assess the association between clopidogrel administration and reoperation as a result of bleeding, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusions received, and the need for multiple transfusions. Hemorrhage-related preoperative risk factors identified in the literature and those found significant in a univariate model were used. The clopidogrel group had a higher likelihood of hemostatic reoperations (odds ratio OR, 5.1; 95% confidence interval CI, 2.47 to 10.47; P<0.01) and an increased need in overall packed red blood cell (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.94 to 3.60; P<0.01), multiple unit (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.48; P=0.02), and platelet (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.77 to 3.66; P<0.01) transfusions. Surgical outcomes and operative mortality (1.4% versus 1.4%; P=1.00) were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: Clopidogrel administration in the cardiology suite increases the risk for hemostatic reoperation and the requirements for blood product transfusions during and after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Kapetanakis et al. (Tue,) conducted a cohort in Isolated off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (n=1,572). Clopidogrel premedication vs. No clopidogrel premedication was evaluated on Hemostatic reoperations (OR 5.1, 95% CI 2.47 to 10.47, p=<0.01). Preoperative clopidogrel exposure significantly increased the risk of hemostatic reoperations (OR 5.1; 95% CI 2.47-10.47; P<0.01) and blood transfusions during and after off-pump CABG surgery.