Impact of clopidogrel use on mortality and major bleeding in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Patients who received clopidogrel prior to coronary bypass surgery are at increased risk for bleeding that must be balanced with risk of ongoing ischemia if coronary artery bypass grafting is delayed. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of clopidogrel on mortality and major bleeding in patients undergoing urgent coronary bypass surgery. We reviewed 451 consecutive patients who underwent urgent isolated coronary bypass surgery; 262 had not received clopidogrel, whereas 189 received clopidogrel < or = 5 days preoperative.