Preoperative treatment with clopidogrel and ticagrelor on bleeding complications in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) consisting of acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel or ticagrelor increased bleeding complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We aimed to compare the bleeding risks between patients treated with clopidogrel and ticagrelor preoperatively and investigate the influence of discontinuation of clopidogrel and ticagrelor on bleeding risk in off-pump CABG (OPCABG).We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with DAPT who underwent OPCABG. The propensity score matching was performed given the baseline differences between clopidogrel- and ticagrelor-treated patients. Bleeding was assessed by chest tube drainage volume and universal definition of perioperative bleeding.This study included 836 patients. Five hundred and fifty patients were treated with clopidogrel and 286 patients treated with ticagrelor before surgery. After matching, 275 patients treated with clopidogrel and 275 patients with ticagrelor were included. There were no significant differences in bleeding between clopidogrel and ticagrelor group. Patients who discontinued clopidogrel before surgery <3 d had a higher risk of severe perioperative bleeding compared with those who discontinued ≥5 d (16.4 % vs. 5.0 %, P = 0.045). By contrast, the risk of severe perioperative bleeding was comparable among patients who discontinued ticagrelor for <3 d, ≥3-5 d and ≥5 d preoperatively (16.2 % vs. 9.1 % vs. 10.1 %, P = 0.317). The multivariable analysis confirmed that time since discontinuation (<3 d vs. ≥5 d: OR = 2.732, 95 % CI: 1.332-5.605, P = 0.006) but not the types of P2Y12 receptor antagonist was an independent predictor for severe perioperative bleeding.There were no significant differences in severe perioperative bleeding between clopidogrel and ticagrelor groups. Discontinuation of clopidogrel <3 d before OPCABG increased the risk of severe perioperative bleeding.