Effect of preoperative aspirin on blood lossand blood transfusion in patients undergoingcoronary artery bypass grafting: Impactof discontinuation prior to surgery

ABSTRACT

The aim of our study is to evaluate the impact of recent aspirin use before CABG on the post operative bleeding, blood transfusion and re-exploration. Retrospectively collected data from 67 patients who were operated in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital from 2008-2009 was included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups, [1] Aspirin stopped >7 days before surgery [34 patient] and [2] Aspirin received within 7 days before surgery [33 patients]. Platelet transfusion and length of hospital stay was more in patients where Aspirin stopped < 7 days [P value 0.03 and 0.002 respectively]. There was trend of increase in intraoperative bleeding and PRBC transfusion in the group who received Aspirin within seven days. Postoperative blood loss was higher in aspirin users than non aspirin users but not statistically significant. There was no difference between two groups regarding re-exploration or operative mortality. Patients who take aspirin within 7 days before surgery have more tendency to have post-operative bleeding and receiving blood products. They also have longer length of stay in the hospital. Our recommendation is to stop aspirin more than 7 days before surgery