The rates of major bleeding (59.3% with ticagrelor, 57.6% with clopidogrel) and transfusion requirements (55.7% with ticagrelor, 56.5% with clopidogrel) were similar. Furthermore, no difference in bleeding was noted between ticagrelor and clopidogrel with respect to time from last dose of study drug, even when CABG was performed 1, 2, or 3 days after discontinuation. On the basis of these data, it does not appear that the more rapid recovery of platelet function seen in ticagrelor pharmacokinetic studies translates to a lower risk of bleeding or less need for transfusion compared with clopidogrel when CABG is performed early (ie, 5 days) after drug discontinuation. 4.2. Postoperative Antiplatelet Therapy: Recommendations Class I 1. If aspirin (100 mg to 325 mg daily) was not initiated preoperatively, it should be initiated within 6 hours postoperatively and then continued indefinitely to Hillis et al 2011 ACCF/AHA CABG Guideline e677 reduce the occurrence of SVG closure and adverse cardiovascular events.519,535,536 (Level of Evidence: A) Class IIa 1. For patients undergoing CABG, clopidogrel 75 mg daily is a reasonable alternative in patients who are intolerant of or allergic to aspirin. (Level of Evi- dence: C) See Online Data Supplement 23 for additional data on postoperative antiplatelet therapy. Aspirin significantly improves SVG patency rates, partic- ularly during the first postoperative year. Because arterial graft patency rates are high even in the absence of antiplatelet therapy, the administration of such therapy has not shown an improvement. 