Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After CABG

In a small trial, adding clopidogrel to aspirin therapy reduced the rate of venous graft occlusion.

Although aspirin treatment after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been shown to improve graft patency, a substantial risk for early occlusion persists. In this single-center, open-label, randomized trial from China, 224 patients who underwent successful CABG surgery were assigned to receive aspirin (100 mg daily) with or without clopidogrel (75 mg daily). Study agents were given orally after patients were determined to be clinically stable and when chest tube output was <30 mL/hour for ≥2 hours.

Computed tomographic angiography was performed at 3 months to assess graft patency. Graft occlusion was demonstrated in 11.3% of 470 venous grafts: 14.3% in the aspirin-only group versus 8.4% in the aspirin plus clopidogrel group (relative …

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI