Antithrombotic therapy after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a Clinical Consensus Statement of the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Surgery, the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)

Antithrombotic therapy is essential after coronary artery bypass graft surgery to reduce ischaemic events and prevent graft occlusion. Although aspirin remains the most commonly used agent, in higher-risk patients, dual antiplatelet therapy or combining antiplatelet therapy with oral anticoagulation may be beneficial, but this increases bleeding risk. The choice of antithrombotic therapy should be tailored to each patient, based on their ischaemic and bleeding risks, and regularly reassessed. Here, the scientific evidence underlying the key aspects of the choice of antithrombotic therapy after coronary artery bypass grafting is reviewed. Consensus statements for best clinical practice are provided and areas requiring further research are highlighted.