Abstract
A comparison between chest tube blood loss per total blood replacement and the ingestion of antiplatelet drugs before surgery was undertaken in 20 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for coronary artery disease. Ten patients who had ingested antiplatelet agents and 10 patients denying the use of any agent known to interfere with hemostasis or platelet function were studied retrospectively. The average chest tube blood loss in the antiplatelet drug users was 1340 cc per 24 hours, and the average total blood replacement following bypass was 4.8 units. Chest tube blood loss in the non-antiplatelet drug group was 483 cc per 24 hours, and total blood replacement averaged 2.5 units.
This study illustrates that the ingestion of antiplatelet agents before CPB may accentuate the defects in hemostasis which are usually present during this procedure, and increased postoperative blood loss may result. In addi tion, this study emphasizes the importance of a careful drug history, espe cially concerning ingestion of antiplatelet agents, before cardiopulmonary bypass.
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