AHA Scientific Statement — Secondary Prevention After CABG

New recommendations build on previous guidelines for all cardiac surgery patients.

Sponsoring Organization: American Heart Association

Target Audience: Cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiac anesthesiologists

Background and Objective

This scientific statement expands on 2011 guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation that focused on secondary prevention in general. This new guideline is specific to patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Key Points

Antiplatelet Therapies

Administer aspirin perioperatively and within 6 hours after surgery (dose, 81–325 mg) and continue it indefinitely.
Consider dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing off-pump CABG, which is believed to cause a hypercoagulable state.
Do not routinely prescribe warfarin unless the…

Reviewing Author

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute