EFFECT OF ASPIRIN IN CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-GRAFTING

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of aspirin (ASA) therapy on postope rative blood loss, transfusion requirements, reoperation for bleeding, duration of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital in a selected population undergoing a first coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Design: Prospective observational study in consecutiv e patients during a 3-month period. Setting: A teaching cardiothoracic center. Participants: Two hundred forty consecutive patients undergoi ng elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery for the first time . Interventions: Two hundred forty consecutive patients admitted for a first CABG the day before surgery were visited. Patients with an abno rmal routine coagulation screen or taking drugs that might have affect ed their coagulation mechanisms were prospectively excluded (n = 96). The date of the last dose of ASA was recorded in the 144 remaining pat ients, and data were acquired prospectively. Measurements and Main Res ults: Total mediastinal blood drainage, blood products usage, reopenin g, and duration of intensive care unit and hospital stay were recorded , Patients were grouped by days free of ASA. There were no significant differences detected between groups. Conclusions: In patients undergo ing a first CABG and with no known factors affecting their coagulation , ASA therapy did not appear to increase blood loss, reopening for ble eding, or blood products usage requirements during the hospital stay. ASA therapy did not influence the duration of stay in intensive care o r in the hospital. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.