Aspirin in coronary artery surgery: 1-year results of the Aspirin and Tranexamic Acid for Coronary Artery Surgery trial

Aspirin may reduce the risk of vascular graft thrombosis after cardiovascular surgery. We previously reported the 30-day results of a trial evaluating aspirin use before coronary artery surgery. Here we report the 1-year outcomes evaluating late thrombotic events and disability-free survival. Using a factorial design, we randomly assigned patients undergoing coronary artery surgery to receive aspirin or placebo and tranexamic acid or placebo. The results of the aspirin comparison are reported here. The primary 1-year outcome was death or severe disability, the latter defined as living with a modified Katz activities of daily living score .10). In patients undergoing coronary artery surgery, preoperative aspirin did not reduce death or severe disability, or thrombotic events through to 1 year after surgery.