Safety of Continued Clopidogrel Use in the Preoperative Course of Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Jupiter, Daniel C. PhD; Fang, Xiao MS; Adhikari, Deepak MS; Mehta, Hemalkumar B. PhD; Riall, Taylor S. MD, PhD

Annals of Surgery: February 2017 - Volume 265 - Issue 2 - p 370–378

doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000001726

Original Articles

Objective: Our study aimed to estimate postoperative bleeding risk in older adults taking clopidogrel before gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, to aid surgeons in decisions regarding clopigogrel cessation.

Summary Background Data: Balancing risks of postoperative bleeding associated with continued clopidogrel use and those associated with cessation is difficult for GI surgeons.

Conclusions: Clopidogrel use in older adults through the preoperative period of GI surgery does not significantly increase bleeding events in the month after surgery.

http://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/2017/02000/Safety_of_Continued_Clopidogrel_Use_in_the.21.aspx