The Efficacy of Aspirin in the Postoperative Period in Vascular Surgery

About 15% of the general population shows resistance to the antiplatelet effects of aspirin, due to genetic polymorphisms and other factors. This resistance is a cause of increased myocardial infarction and death in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. Aspirin resistance can be detected by whole blood impedance aggregometry using the Multiplate® analyzer. The population of patients undergoing vascular surgery is at particular risk of suffering myocardial infarction in the perioperative period because of the high prevalence of risk factors. Most of these patients are treated by aspirin, as a measure of primary or secondary prevention. In this study we aim to establish baseline aspirin efficacy, as measured by the Multiplate® analyzer, in this high-risk population and evaluate the changes in aspirin efficacy over the first five days of the postoperative period. It is our hypothesis that the state of chronic inflammation, accompanying severe, generalized atherosclerosis results in a higher incidence of aspirin resistance in this population. Also, the surgical trauma and postoperative thrombocytosis may reduce the efficacy of aspirin in the postoperative period, partially explaining the increased incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction in this population.

In whole blood impedance aggregometry, the electrical impedance of the blood sample is measured by placing two electrodes in the recipient. After the addition of a platelet activator, the impedance will increase as platelets accumulate on the electrodes surfaces. Several activators, testing the patency of different platelet receptors can be used.

In this study, blood will be drawn on the day of surgery, and daily until the fifth postoperative day. Arachidonic acid, ADP, TRAP-6 and collagen will be used as activators. The first specifically tests the platelets reactivity to thromboxane A2. Aspirin inhibits this pathway, and the increase in impedance should therefore be limited in patients treated by this drug. The three other tests will be performed to evaluate the evolution of overall platelet reactivity in the postoperative period.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient undergoing peripheral vascular or abdominal aorta surgery.
• Patient aged 18 years or older.
• Patient treated by aspirin.

Exclusion criteria

• Incapacity to understand and consent to study.
• Patient undergoing emergency surgery.
• Patient treated by a cox-inhibitor other than aspirin.
• Patient treated by omega-3-fatty acids.
• Patient treated by ADP or GPIIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor.
• Known coagulopathy, thrombopenia, thrombopathia or congenital or acquired thrombasthenia.
• Terminal renal insufficiency.
• Hepathic insufficiency.