[Perioperative therapy with thienopyridines in coronary artery bypass surgery]

The number of patients taking dual antiplatelet therapy is growing with high cardiovascular risk associated with even short-time antiplatelets cessation in some clinical scenarios (e.g., after acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary interventions). However, sometimes, it is required to hold antiplatelets particularly in the preoperative period of coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). The article reviews the data on thienopyridine use before CABG, offers an algorithm of preoperative antiplatelet therapy depending on patient's cardiovascular risk.