title: Postoperative clopidogrel improves mid-term outcome after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clopidogrel decreases recurrent ischemic events and improves intracoronary stent patency. There are scarce data on the effect of short-term and long-term clopidogrel on symptom recurrence and adverse cardiac events following off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OPCAB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Postoperative antiplatelet medication use was prospectively evaluated in 591 OPCAB patients. Clopidogrel was administered for 30 days in 186 patients and 139 received long-term clopidogrel (mean 33.6+/-12.0 months) in addition to aspirin. Follow-up was 37.7+/-13.4 months. Symptom recurrence (angina and congestive heart failure), adverse cardiac events (myocardial infarction, coronary reintervention, and sudden cardiac death), and overall mortality were prospectively recorded. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate predictors of end points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference with respect to preoperative risk factors between patient groups. In the multivariate analysis, postoperative clopidogrel independently decreased symptom recurrence (p<0.0001, OR 0.3 [0.15-0.99]; 95% CI) and adverse cardiac events (p<0.0001, OR 0.2 [0.10-0.45]; 95% CI). Clopidogrel receivers had significantly lower angina recurrence, myocardial infarction, coronary reintervention, and sudden cardiac death during follow-up. There was no difference in the incidence of end points between short-term (30 days) and long-term receivers of the drug. There were 17 bleeding complications (4 major and 13 minor) in 15 patients during the follow-up period. Of the 15 patients, 6 were on clopidogrel in addition to aspirin (1.8%) while the remaining 9 were on aspirin (3.3%) only at the time of bleeding (p=0.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clopidogrel therapy was independently associated with decreased symptom recurrence and adverse cardiac events following OPCAB. Extending clopidogrel use beyond 30 days did not have a significant effect on defined end points.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology, Anadolu Foundation Healthcare System, Gebze Kocaeli, Turkey. atgurbuz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmet Tayfun
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gurbuz
authors.forename: Ayhan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.forename: Ali Can
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vuran
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Aydin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aytac
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin