Antiplatelet therapy, cardiac surgery, and the risk of bleeding: the surgeon's perspective

Antiplatelet therapy is widely accepted in the contemporary management of patients with coronary syndromes. Effective platelet inhibition can cause an increased risk of bleeding, which is more evident when patients are referred to surgical coronary revascularization. The cardiac surgeon should be familiar with all new antiplatelet drugs. In this article we compile the latest information about antiplatelet therapy and its impact on cardiac surgery.