What is the effect of preoperative aspirin use on coronary artery bypass surgery?
Studies have shown that preoperative aspirin use can reduce operative blood loss, decrease platelet aggregation, and lead to improved early graft patency. A placebo-controlled trial of enteric-coated aspirin in coronary artery bypass graft patients found that patients who had preoperative aspirin therapy had improved graft patency and lower transfusion requirements. Other studies have found that preoperative aspirin use may reduce the risk of perioperative myocardial infarction and improve long-term graft patency. However, preoperative aspirin use can also increase the risk of postoperative bleeding, and there is evidence that clopidogrel may be more effective than aspirin in reducing postoperative bleeding after coronary artery bypass surgery.  