title: The effect of preoperative antiplatelet therapy in coronary artery surgery: blood transfusion requirements for patients on cardiopulmonary bypass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bleeding after heart operations remains a common complication and contributes to morbidity and death. Recent studies have suggested that antiplatelet therapy (APT) may not increase homologous blood requirements in coronary bypass surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of APT therapy on haemorrhage and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CABG) on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Records from 290 consecutive patients who underwent CABG with CPB were retrospectively reviewed, including 145 patients who received APT within 5 days prior to surgery and 145 control patients (CON). Blood loss was measured up to 24 h. Demographic and clinical patient data were collected until hospital discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were well matched with respect to demographic and intra-operative data. There was significantly (p < 0.0005) more mediastinal tube drainage at 24 h in the APT group (1123 mL +/- 537 mL) compared to CON patients (874 mL +/- 351 mL). In addition, the APT group received significantly more units of blood (APT: 2.6 +/- 2.5 vs CON: 1.6 +/- 1.8; p < 0.0005), platelet units (APT: 1.2 +/- 1.8 vs CON: 0.2 +/- 0.8; p < 0.0005), and fresh frozen plasma units (APT: 2.0 +/- 2.2 vs CON: 1.3 +/- 2.0; p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests consideration should be given to delaying elective CABG for patients who have received APT treatment until APT is discontinued for at least 5 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Germany. khosro.hekmat@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hekmat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kroener
authors.forename: R H G
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kampe
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mehlhorn
mesh_terms: D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors