Statins and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Cleveland Clinic researchers find that patients undergoing cardiac surgery may have fewer complications if they dont discontinue their statin use.

Published: February 1, 2016

In the days leading up to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, heart patients typically stop taking some of their medications to prevent bleeding problems and other complications during and after the operation. Managing blood pressure-lowering drugs, blood thinners and other medications should be done with the involvement of a patients doctor. Cholesterol-lowering statins were also among the drugs that are often discontinued prior to CABG.