JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Bridging antiplatelet therapy with cangrelor in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial.
Thienopyridines are among the most widely prescribed medications, but their use can be complicated by the unanticipated need for surgery. Despite increased risk of thrombosis, guidelines recommend discontinuing thienopyridines 5 to 7 days prior to surgery to minimize bleeding. ⋯ Among patients who discontinue thienopyridine therapy prior to cardiac surgery, the use of cangrelor compared with placebo resulted in a higher rate of maintenance of platelet inhibition.