Use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors is not associated with increased bleeding after CABG

Objectives Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants worldwide. Studies suggest that SSRI/SNRIs can increase bleeding following different surgical procedures, including open heart surgery, but results are conflicting. The objective of this study was to analyse their effects on bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods Of 1237 patients that underwent CABG in Iceland in 2007–2016, 97 (7.8%) used SSRIs/SNRIs preoperatively and were compared to a reference group ( n = 1140). Bleeding was assessed using 24-h chest-tube output, number of RBC units transfused and reoperation for bleeding. Thirty-day mortality rates and incidence of complications were also compared. Results The two groups were comparable with respect to preoperative and operative variables, with the exception of BMI being significantly higher in the SSRI/SNRI group (30.2 vs. 28.3 kg/m 2 , p