The number of patients with coronary atherosclerotic heart disease is increasing, and a great part of the patients undergo percutaneous coronary intervention followed by postoperative dual antiplatelet therapy. These patients will face an increasing risk of blood loss if a non‑cardiac surgery is needed within a short period of time. However, once antiplatelet therapy stops, they will also face an increasing risk of perioperative stent thrombosis and myocardial infarction. This article focuses on a series of issues related to antiplatelet therapy, including common medicine, effectiveness and safety, antiplatelet therapy duration, complications, withdrawal protocol, and bridging management, in order to improve perioperative safety.