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-Tho
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.
Authors
- Alexander Niessner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8888-0935)
- Juan Tamargo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7979-7758)
- Nikolaos Bonaros (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7656-5812)
- Dobromir Dobrev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4612-117X)
- Alicja Zientara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1915-0618)
- Martin Czerny (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4766-9775)
- Alessandro Parolari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6954-0422)
- Patrick Sulzgruber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5146-0099)
- Anders Jeppsson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2356-2295)
- Sigrid Sandner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4669-9841)
- Mario Gaudino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4680-0815)
- Giorgia Bonalumi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2353-0664)
- Sven Waßmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4435-2476)
- Milan Milojevic (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0984-9011)
- Stefan Agewall
- Matthias Thielmann
Institutions
- Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
- University of Freiburg (DE)
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
- University of Oslo (NO)
- University of Milan (IT)
- Universität Innsbruck (AT)
- Cornell University (US)
- Montreal Heart Institute (CA)
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (ES)
- Centro Cardiologico Monzino (IT)
- IRCCS Policlinico San Donato (IT)
- Glanrhyd Hospital (GB)
- University Clinic of Traumatology (AT)
- Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina (RS)
- Lungenheilkunde München-Pasing (DE)
- Universitäts-Herzzentrum Freiburg-Bad Krozingen (DE)
- West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen (DE)
- Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Saarland University (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- European Heart Journal
- Published
- 2025-08-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf423
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Antiplatelet Therapy and Cardiovascular Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.55