Aspirin "resistance" and risk of cardiovascular morbidity: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine if there is a relation between aspirin "resistance" and clinical outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Source: Electronic literature search without language restrictions of four databases and hand search of bibliographies for other relevant articles.

Ethnic diversity: South Asian ethnicity is associated with increased coronary artery bypass grafting mortality.

Objective: South Asian ethnicity might result in a higher atherosclerotic vascular risk compared with white ethnicity. However, the effect of South Asian ethnicity on clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery is unknown. Thus, we determined whether South Asian ethnicity is a predictor of a poorer outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Biological basis and clinical implications of acetylsalicylic acid resistance.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is effective in preventing strokes, heart attacks and vascular-related events associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Notwithstanding, many patients suffer recurrent events while on ASA therapy. During the past decade, a number of investigators have suggested that these patients are unresponsive to ASA or are 'ASA-resistant'.

Coagulation disorders of cardiopulmonary bypass: a review.

Background: Postoperative bleeding is one of the most common complications of cardiac surgery.

Discussion: Extensive surgical trauma, prolonged blood contact with the artificial surface of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit, high doses of heparin, and hypothermia are all possible triggers of a coagulopathy leading to excessive bleeding. Platelet activation and dysfunction also occur and are caused mainly by heparin, hypothermia, and inadequate protamine administration.

Accumulation of radiolabelled platelets and fibrin on the carotid artery of rabbits after angioplasty: effects of heparin and dipyridamole.

We investigated the dynamic accumulation of platelets and fibrin after balloon injury of the carotid arteries in rabbits in vivo. In addition, effects of heparin and dipyridamole treatment were also tested. Autologous (99m)Tc-labelled platelet and (123)I-labelled fibrin accumulation was measured at one minute intervals for 4 hours following balloon injury of the carotid artery.

Gender-related differences in morbidity and mortality during combined valve and coronary surgery.

Background: Gender-related differences in morbidity and mortality are well described for coronary artery bypass grafting but are not well understood for combined valve and bypass surgery.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the morbidity and mortality of 1570 consecutive patients who underwent combined valve and bypass procedures at the Toronto General Hospital between January 1990 and October 2000.

Results: There were 1073 men (68%) and 497 women (32%).