title: Clopidogrel use and bleeding after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Short-term use of clopidogrel plus aspirin among patients with acute coronary syndrome reduces ischemic events, but concerns about coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery-related bleeding limit its early use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from 4,794 consecutive CABG procedures in the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease (January 1999 to December 2003), we developed multivariable models for associations with CABG-related bleeding defined as reoperation for bleeding, red cell transfusion, and a composite of reoperation/transfusion/hematocrit drop>or=15%. We examined clopidogrel use<or=5 days versus no clopidogrel<or=5 days before CABG in each model. Models were adjusted for propensity for clopidogrel use<or=5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 4,794 CABG patients, 332 (6.9%) received clopidogrel<or=5 days before CABG, 127 (2.6%) had reoperation for bleeding, 3,277 (68.4%) received red cell transfusion, and 4,387 (91.5%) had the composite outcome. After adjustment, clopidogrel use<or=5 days was not significantly associated with reoperation (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% CI 0.63-2.41) or the composite end point (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.72-2.10). Clopidogrel<or=5 days was modestly associated with red cell transfusion (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04-1.89) but more weakly than other factors, including which surgeon performed the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clopidogrel administration<or=5 days before CABG was not significantly associated with reoperation for bleeding or a bleeding composite, and only weakly with red cell transfusion after surgery. The impact of withholding clopidogrel acutely in those for whom clopidogrel has proven benefits and the impact of delaying CABG to prevent bleeding among patients treated with clopidogrel should be viewed in the context of other stronger determinants of bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: John Hyung-Jun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: L Kristin
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Clare
authors.forename: Linda K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lodge
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: E Marc
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jolicoeur
authors.forename: Sunil V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Granger
mesh_terms: D000077144:Clopidogrel; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine