Postoperative stroke in patients on oral anticoagulation undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

Fausto Biancari1, Mikko Myllyl, Pekka Porela

  • 1Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. faustobiancari@yahoo.it

Insights

Patients on warfarin undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) face stroke risks. The CHADS(2) score and specific anticoagulation strategies predict postoperative stroke, guiding better patient management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Patients on long-term warfarin therapy have a high risk of stroke.
  • Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery carries inherent risks, including postoperative stroke.
  • Identifying predictors of stroke in this high-risk population is crucial for improving outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify determinants of postoperative stroke in patients on long-term warfarin treatment undergoing CABG.
  • To evaluate the predictive value of logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) analyses for postoperative stroke.

Main Methods:

  • A consecutive series of 270 patients on long-term warfarin treatment undergoing isolated CABG were analyzed.
  • Logistic regression and CART analysis were employed to identify stroke predictors.
  • Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess predictive accuracy.

Main Results:

  • Postoperative stroke occurred in 3.7% of patients during in-hospital stay.
  • Logistic regression identified CHADS(2) score > 2, recent thrombolysis, and history of deep vein thrombosis as independent predictors.
  • CART analysis indicated CHADS(2) score > 2, history of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), no preoperative aspirin, and bridging with low molecular weight heparins as risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Patient characteristics within the CHADS(2) score are significant predictors of postoperative stroke risk after CABG.
  • Preoperative antiplatelet therapy may be beneficial for high-risk patients.
  • Preoperative bridging with low molecular weight heparins might increase stroke risk in this cohort.
Abstract

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