Failure of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy to improve patency of grafts after coronary-artery bypass: a controlled, randomized study

N Engl J Med. 1979 Nov 1;301(18):962-6. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197911013011803.

Abstract

Fifty patients who underwent aortocoronary saphenous-vein bypass-graft surgery were randomly assigned to one of three groups to determine the effects of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy on graft patency. Twenty-four patients served as controls; 13 patients received aspirin (325 mg three times a day) and dipyridamole (75 mg three times a day); and 13 patients received closely regulated warfarin therapy. Medications were begun on the third post-operative day. Six months after surgery, all patients underwent coronary angiography to assess graft patency. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in various clinical, hemodynamic and angios, 27 of 33 grafts (82 per cent) with aspirin and dipyridamole and 29 of 37 grafts (78 per cent) with warfarin (P less than 0.5), all patients had at least one patent graft. Postoperative treatment either with aspirin and dipyridamole or with warfarin failed to improve the patency of the grafts.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Aspirin / pharmacology
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Blood Platelets / drug effects*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Coronary Artery Bypass* / adverse effects
  • Dipyridamole / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Random Allocation
  • Warfarin / administration & dosage
  • Warfarin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Warfarin
  • Dipyridamole
  • Aspirin