Antiplatelet agents, carotid endarterectomy, and perioperative complications

Effects of Sarpogrelate Combined with Aspirin in Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy in China: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing carotid artery stenosis who are prescribed aspirin, clopidogrel, or sarpogrelate as treatment options to inhibit platelet aggregation continues to increase. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel combined with aspirin (CA) versus sarpogrelate combined with aspirin (SA) treatment in carotid endarterectomy (CEA) patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 197 CEA patients (mean age 61.4 years, mean follow-up time 42.5 months), who were divided into a CA group (Group A: 65 male and 44 female patients) and an SA group (Group B: 58 male and 30 female patients). Preoperative demographic and clinical characteristics and postoperative results were compared between the 2 groups and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Preoperative demographic and clinical characteristics, transfusions, hospital stay, occurrence of transient ischemic attack, stroke, myocardial infarction, restenosis, general or life-threatening bleeding, and 30-day mortality showed no significant differences between the 2 CEA patient groups. However, the mean operative blood loss (P = 0.023) and the operative time (P = 0.040) were significantly higher in Group A compared with Group B. A highly significant incidence of neck hematoma (P = 0.024) was observed in patients of Group A.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study on CEA patients, antiplatelet treatment with CA resulted in a significant risk of developing neck hematoma, increased operative blood loss, and operative time compared with SA treatment. Long-term prospective studies with larger study populations are needed to further confirm the utility of SA treatment for CEA patients.