ObjectiveTo compare the effect of aspirin+ticagrelor and aspirin+clopidogrel on graft patency one year after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).MethodsA total of 67 patients who received CABG in our department from January 2014 to September 2017 were included in this study (52 males and 15 females). They were randomly divided into a group A (aspirin+clopidogrel) and a group B (aspirin+ticagrelor). There were 34 participants in the group A (28 males and 6 females) and 33 patients in the group B (24 males and 9 females). All patients were invited for clinical follow-up and 64-slice multislice computed tomography angiography (MSCTA) analysis in 1 year postoperatively. Cardiovascular events, bleeding events and other adverse events were followed up.ResultsFour patients were lost to follow-up. Two patients died. A total of 61 patients (48 males and 13 females) completed coronary CTA, and 31 in the group A (25 males and 6 females) and 30 in the group B (23 males and 7 females). The total number of bridged vessels was 156 (59 internal thoracic artery bridges and 97 great saphenous vein bridges), including 79 in the group A (31 internal thoracic artery bridges and 48 great saphenous vein bridges) and 77 in the group B (28 internal thoracic artery bridges and 49 great saphenous vein bridges). Graft patency rate 1 year post CABG was 82.3% (65/79) in the group A and 92.2% (71/77) in the group B (P>0.05). Artery graft patency rate 1 year post CABG was 96.8% (30/31) in the group A and 96.4% (27/28) in the group B (P>0.05). Saphenous vein graft patency rate 1 year post CABG was 72.9% (35/48) in the group A and 89.8% (44/49) in the group B (P<0.05). Multivariable analysis with binary logistic regression showed ticagrelor use reduced graft occlusion (OR=0.282, 95%CI 0.093 to 0.862, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse events between the two groups.ConclusionCompared with clopidogrel plus aspirin, ticagrelor added to aspirin after CABG may enhance the saphenous graft patency without the excess risk of bleeding 1 year post CABG.