Why the study?
Does the timing of preoperative clopidogrel discontinuation affect postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing elective CABG?
Population
130 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
Comparison
Clopidogrel discontinued 3 days before surgery… vs Clopidogrel discontinued 5 days prior to surgery
Design
RCT, randomised
Follow-up
postoperative (including 12 h and at drain removal)
Authors
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Continuing clopidogrel until elective CABG day increases bleeding; reinforces guidelines for ≥5-day preoperative discontinuation.
Does the timing of preoperative clopidogrel discontinuation affect postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing elective CABG?
Stopping clopidogrel 3 days before elective CABG results in similar postoperative blood loss compared to the standard 5-day discontinuation, whereas continuing until the day of surgery significantly increases bleeding and transfusion requirements.
Firanescu et al. (2009) studied this question.
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