Researchers examined data of 10,010 patients from 135 hospitals in 23 countries collected between July 2010 and Dec. 2013.
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Death or nonfatal heart attacks occurred in 7 percent of the aspirin group and 7.1 percent of the placebo group.
Additionally, the rate of stroke was 0.3 percent in the aspirin group and 0.4 percent in the placebo group, and both groups experienced an average length of stay of four days.
However, the aspirin group had a higher rate of major bleeding, at 4.6 percent, compared to 3.8 percent for the placebo group.
Researchers concluded administering aspirin prior to noncardiac surgery and early in the postsurgical period has no significant effect on mortality rate or nonfatal heart attacks, but it does increase the rate of major bleeding. They said their findings apply to patients who were not already receiving aspirin as well as those who were on long-term aspirin regimens.
They also suggest patients on a long-term aspirin regimen who stop taking aspirin three days prior to surgery may reduce their risk of bleeding.
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