Effect of clopidogrel premedication in off-pump cardiac surgery: are we forfeiting the benefits of reduced hemorrhagic sequelae?
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.


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
Emmanouil I
EI
Department of Surgery, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC 20010-2975, USA. emmanouil.kapetanakis@medstar.net
Medlam
Diego A
DA
Petro
Kathleen R
KR
Haile
Elizabeth
E
Hill
Peter C
PC
Dullum
Mercedes K C
MK
Bafi
Ammar S
AS
Boyce
Steven W
SW
Corso
Paul J
PJ
D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D047549:Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011292:Premedication; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine