Background

We analyzed The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database to investigate risks and optimal timing for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) after clopidogrel administration.

Methods

Patients were categorized based on clopidogrel use within 5 days and further stratified by days from the last dose (0 to 5 days). Controls were patients who did not receive clopidogrel within 5 days of surgery. The primary outcome was operative mortality, and secondary outcomes included mediastinal reexploration for bleeding and blood product use.

Results

Among 148,317 isolated CABG, 19,553 patients (13.2%) received clopidogrel within 5 days. Minimal differences in operative mortality (2.8% vs 2.1%, P < .001), but higher rates of mediastinal reexploration (3.5% vs 2.1%, P < .001) and blood product utilization (72.7% vs 56.8%, P < .001) were observed in the clopidogrel group. The adjusted odds ratio of operative mortality peaked on the day of clopidogrel administration but was comparable to controls thereafter. The odds of reexploration were highest on day 0, decreasing gradually to a plateau after day 3. Patients who underwent operations on day 3 after clopidogrel administration had similar odds of operative mortality and mediastinal reexploration for bleeding and shorter total and preoperative lengths of stay but higher blood product use compared with day 5.

Conclusions

CABG within 5 days from clopidogrel is associated with a modest increase in operative mortality and reexploration for bleeding and a substantial increase in blood product use. Risks decreased with increasing time from discontinuation, plateauing after 3 days from clopidogrel. CABG at 3 days yields comparable outcomes as 5 days, reducing the waiting period.