Impact of clopidogrel on postoperative blood loss after non-elective coronary bypass surgery.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of clopidogrel on blood loss and blood and blood products usage following CABG. One hundred and ninety-six patients underwent urgent or emergent CABG, 182 of those met with inclusion criteria, 28 patients had clopidogrel exposure (group 1), 49 patients had both ASA and clopidogrel exposure (group 2), and 68 patients had ASA exposure (group 3) within a week of operation. The remaining 37 patients were on no antiaggregant therapy (group 4). Total chest tube drainage during the first 24 h, the incidence of reoperation for bleeding, blood and blood products usage, and the early outcome (duration of mechanical ventilation, the intensive care unit stay and total hospital stay), were assessed. Total chest tube drainage was significantly higher in the patients with clopidogrel exposure and increased amount of transfusions with blood products were also observed in those patients. The patients with clopidogrel exposure required significantly more reoperation for bleeding. The duration of controlled ventilation and intensive care unit stay were also significantly longer in the patients with clopidogrel exposure. Our results support the recent history of clopidogrel treatment associated with increased blood loss, transfusion and reoperation requirement after CABG.