Gender is Independently Associated With Red Blood Cell and Platelet Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Data From the Netherlands Heart Registration.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of transfusions, including red blood cells (RBC), platelets, and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) during and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the authors aimed to identify the impact of sex on blood product transfusion. DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter cohort study. Data were collected from January 2013 to December 2021 from the Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR) database. SETTING: The NHR receives its data from 16 heart centers in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Patients older than 18 years who underwent CABG in the Netherlands. INTERVENTIONS: Coronary artery bypass grafting with extracorporeal circulation or off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of blood transfusion, defined as transfusions intraoperatively and during the length of the hospital admission after CABG. In addition, a differentiation was made according to the type of transfusion (packed RBC, platelets, and FFP). In the overall cohort (N = 42,388), the number of patients who received a transfusion of any type was 27.0% (n = 11,428). Women received more often RBC transfusions compared with men (45.4% v 15.6%, respectively, p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between the 2 sexes regarding platelet transfusion (women 10.0% v men 11.1%, p = 0.005) but not in FFP transfusion. Female sex was independently associated with RBC transfusion, using the multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of any blood transfusion was 27.0%, and was higher in women than in men. The female sex was independently associated with receiving RBC during and after CABG.

Biplanar versus conventional two-dimensional ultrasound guidance for radial artery catheterisation.

Background: Ultrasound guidance increases first-pass success rates and decreases the number of cannulation attempts and complications during radial artery catheterisation but it is debatable whether short-, long-, or oblique-axis imaging is superior for obtaining access. Three-dimensional (3D) biplanar ultrasound combines both short- and long-axis views with their respective benefits. This study aimed to determine whether biplanar imaging would improve the accuracy of radial artery catheterisation compared with conventional 2D imaging. Methods: This before-and-after trial included adult patients who required radial artery catheterisation for elective cardiothoracic surgery. The participating anaesthesiologists were experienced in 2D and biplanar ultrasound-guided vascular access. The primary endpoint was successful catheterisation in one skin break without withdrawals. Secondary endpoints were the numbers of punctures and withdrawals, scanning and procedure times, needle visibility, perceived mental effort of the operator, and posterior wall puncture or other mechanical complications. Results: From November 2021 until April 2022, 158 patients were included and analysed (2D=75, biplanar=83), with two failures to catheterise in each group. First-pass success without needle redirections was 58.7% in the 2D group and 60.2% in the biplanar group (difference=1.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -14.0%-17.1%; P=0.84), and first-pass success within one skin break was 77.3% in the 2D group vs 81.9% in the biplanar group (difference=4.6%; 95% CI, 8.1%-17.3%; P=0.473). None of the secondary endpoints differed significantly. Conclusions: Biplanar ultrasound guidance did not improve success rates nor other performance measures of radial artery catheterisation. The additional visual information acquired with biplanar imaging did not offer any benefit. Clinical trial registration: N9687 (Dutch Trial Register).

The effect of non-point-of-care haemostasis management protocol implementation in cardiac surgery: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aims to outline the evidence on the implementation of a non-point-of-care (non-point-of-care [POC]) haemostasis management protocol compared to experience-based practice in adult cardiac surgery. BACKGROUND: Management of coagulopathy in cardiac surgery is complex and remains highly variable among centres and physicians. Although various guidelines recommend the implementation of a transfusion protocol, the literature on this topic has never been systematically reviewed. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 till May 2020. RESULTS: A total of seven studies (one randomised controlled trial [RCT], one prospective cohort study, and five retrospective studies) met the inclusion criteria. Among the six non-randomised, controlled studies, the risk of bias was determined to be serious to critical, and the one RCT was determined to have a high risk of bias. Five studies showed a significant reduction in red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and/or platelet transfusion after the implementation of a structural non-POC algorithm, ranging from 2% to 28%, 2% to 19.5%, and 7% to17%, respectively. One study found that fewer patients required transfusion of any blood component in the protocol group. Another study had reported a significantly increased transfusion rate of platelet concentrate in the haemostasis algorithm group. CONCLUSION: Owing to the high heterogeneity and a substantial risk of bias of the included studies, no conclusion can be drawn on the additive value of the implementation of a cardiac-surgery-specific non-POC transfusion and haemostasis management algorithm compared to experience-based practice. To define the exact impact of a transfusion protocol on blood product transfusion, bleeding, and adverse events, well-designed prospective clinical trials are required.

Level of agreement between laboratory and point-of-care prothrombin time in patients after stopping or continuation of acenocoumarol anticoagulation: A comparison of diagnostic accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Procedures requiring optimisation of the coagulation status of patients using vitamin K antagonists are frequently postponed due to the late availability of laboratory international normalised ratio (INR) test results. A point-of-care (POC) alternative may facilitate early decision-making in peri-operative patients. OBJECTIVES: To assess the level of agreement between the POC-INR and the laboratory INR in patients who continue or stop vitamin K antagonists to determine whether the POC test may be a good alternative to the laboratory INR. DESIGN: Study of diagnostic accuracy. SETTING: Single-centre study at Zaans Medical Centre, The Netherlands. PATIENTS: Included patients were scheduled for cardioversion (these continued taking vitamin K antagonists), or a surgical procedure (these stopped taking vitamin K antagonists). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The level of agreement and clinical acceptability of the laboratory and POC-INR results, evaluated by Bland-Altman analysis and error grid analysis. RESULTS: The surgical and cardioversion groups consisted of 47 and 46 patients, respectively. The bias in the INR in the surgical group was -0.12 ±â€Š0.09 with limits of agreement of -0.29 to 0.05, whereas the cardioversion group showed a bias in the INR of -0.22 ±â€Š0.36 with limits of agreement from -0.93 to 0.48. The percentage errors between methods in the surgical and cardioversion groups were 16 and 21%, respectively. Error grid analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of the POC prothrombin time is clinically acceptable as the difference did not lead to a different clinical decision in the surgical group with INR values less than 1.8. CONCLUSION: The current study shows a good level of agreement and clinical accuracy between the laboratory and POC-INR in patients who stopped anticoagulation intake for surgery. However, in patients who continued their anticoagulation therapy, the agreement between the two methods was less accurate.

Prediction of Postoperative Blood Loss Using Thromboelastometry in Adult Cardiac Surgery: Cohort Study and Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the predictive value of thromboelastometry for postoperative blood loss in adult cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study and systematic review of the literature. SETTING: A tertiary university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 202 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Thromboelastometry was performed before cardiopulmonary bypass and 3 minutes after protamine administration. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The cohort study showed that the preoperative and postoperative thromboelastometric positive predicting value was poor (0%-22%); however, the negative predicting value was high (89%-94%). The systematic review of the literature to evaluate the predictive value of thromboelastometry for major postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery resulted in 1,311 articles, 11 of which were eligible (n = 1,765; PubMed and Embase, until June 2016). Two studies found a good predictive value, whereas the other 9 studies showed a poor predictability for major postoperative bleeding after cardiac surgery. The overall negative predicting value was high. CONCLUSIONS: Thromboelastometry does not predict which patients are at risk for major postoperative bleeding.

A Pharmacokinetic Model for Protamine Dosing After Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated postoperative hemostasis of patients subjected to conventional protamine dosing compared with protamine dosing based on a pharmacokinetic (PK) model following cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS: In 56 patients, protamine was dosed in a fixed ratio (CD), while 62 patients received protamine based on the PK model. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There was no difference in heparin administration (414±107 mg (CD) v 403±90 mg (PK); p = 0.54), whereas protamine dosing was considerably different with a protamine-to-heparin dosing ratio of 1.1±0.3 for the CD group and 0.5±0.1 for the PK group (p<0.001). The changes in activated coagulation time (ΔACT) values (ACT after protamine minus preoperative ACT;+17±77 s v+6±15 s; p = 0.31) were equal between groups. Yet, the thromboelastometric intrinsically activated coagulation test clotting time (CT; 250±76 s v 203±44 s; p<0.001) and intrinsically activated coagulation test without the heparin effect CT (275±105 v 198±32 s; p<0.001) were prolonged in the CD group. Median packed red blood cell transfusion (0 [0-2] v 0 [0-0]), fresh frozen plasma transfusion (1 [0-2] v 0 [0-0]), and platelet concentrate transfusion (0 [0-1] v 0 [0-0]) were different between the fixed ratio and PK group, respectively (all p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that patient-tailored protamine dosing based on a PK model was associated with a reduction in protamine dosing, with better hemostatic test results when compared with fixed-ratio protamine dosing.

Effect of high or low protamine dosing on postoperative bleeding following heparin anticoagulation in cardiac surgery. A randomised clinical trial.

While experimental data state that protamine exerts intrinsic anticoagulation effects, protamine is still frequently overdosed for heparin neutralisation during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Since comparative studies are lacking, we assessed the influence of two protamine-to-heparin dosing ratios on perioperative haemostasis and bleeding, and hypothesised that protamine overdosing impairs the coagulation status following cardiac surgery. In this open-label, multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial, patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery were assigned to a low (0.8; n=49) or high (1.3; n=47) protamine-to-heparin dosing group. The primary outcome was 24-hour blood loss. Patient haemostasis was monitored using rotational thromboelastometry and a thrombin generation assay. The low protamine-to-heparin dosing ratio group received less protamine (329 ± 95 vs 539 ± 117 mg; p<0.001), while post-protamine activated clotting times were similar among groups. The high dosing group revealed increased intrinsic clotting times (236 ± 74 vs 196 ± 64 s; p=0.006) and the maximum post-protamine thrombin generation was less suppressed in the low dosing group (38 ± 40 % vs 6 ± 9 %; p=0.001). Postoperative blood loss was increased in the high dosing ratio group (615 ml; 95 % CI 500-830 ml vs 470 ml; 95 % CI 420-530 ml; p=0.021) when compared to the low dosing group, respectively. More patients in the high dosing group received fresh frozen plasma (11 % vs 0 %; p=0.02) and platelet concentrate (21 % vs 6 %; p=0.04) compared to the low dosing group. Our study confirms in vitro data that abundant protamine dosing is associated with increased postoperative blood loss and higher transfusion rates in cardiac surgery.

Level of agreement between laboratory and point-of-care prothrombin time before and after cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hemostasis monitoring in cardiac surgery could benefit from an easy to use and fast point-of-care coagulation monitor, since routine laboratory tests have a delay of 30-45minutes. This study investigated the level of agreement between the point-of-care prothrombin time (PT) with central laboratory PT before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Bland Altman and error grid analysis were used to analyze the agreement between the point-of-care Coaguchek XS Pro device (POC-PT) and the central laboratory prothrombin time (LAB-PT) before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and 3minutes after protamine administration. Prothrombin times were expressed in international normalized ratios (INR). RESULTS: The average POC-PT and LAB-PT values of 73 patients were 1.06±0.14 and 1.09±0.13 (P=0.10) before CPB. POC-PT measurements before CPB showed a good agreement with the LAB-PT, with a bias of -0.02±0.07 INR and 94% of the values being represented in the clinical acceptable zone of error grid analysis. The mean POC-PT 3minutes after protamine administration was significantly lower than the LAB-PT (1.35±0.12 vs. 1.70±0.18; P<0.001). The PT at 3minutes after protamine administration showed a bias of 0.36±0.14, and 82% of the values were located outside of the clinical acceptable zone in the error grid analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Point-of-care prothrombin time testing was in concordance with conventional laboratory PT prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. At 3minutes following protamine administration, PT values of the point-of-care device were structurally lower than the laboratory PT values, leading to a disagreement between both tests at that time point.

Microcirculatory perfusion is preserved during off-pump but not on-pump cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the perioperative course of microcirculatory perfusion in off-pump compared with on-pump surgery. Additionally, the impact of changes in systemic hemodynamics, hematocrit, and body temperature was studied. DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized, observational study. SETTING: Tertiary university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with (n = 13) or without (n = 13) use of cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS: Microcirculatory measurements were obtained at 5 time points ranging from induction of anesthesia to ICU admission. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Microcirculatory recordings were performed with sublingual sidestream dark field imaging. Despite a comparable reduction in intraoperative blood pressure between groups, the perfused vessel density decreased more than 20% after onset of extracorporeal circulation but remained stable in the off-pump group. The reduction in microvascular perfusion in the on-pump group was further paralleled by decreased hematocrit and temperature. Although postbypass hematocrit levels and body temperature were restored to similar levels as in the off-pump group, the median microvascular flow index remained reduced after bypass (2.4 [2.3-2.7]) compared with baseline (2.8 [2.7-2.9]; p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Microcirculatory perfusion remained unaltered throughout off-pump surgery. In contrast, microvascular perfusion declined after initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and did not recover in the early postoperative phase.

Ten-year patterns in blood product utilization during cardiothoracic surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective analysis describes blood conservation strategies and overall consumption of red blood cells (RBCs), fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), and platelet (PLT) concentrates during nonaortic cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in a tertiary hospital over a 10-year period. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Study variables of 6026 patients that underwent cardiac surgery between 2002 and 2011 were incorporated in the database and included hemoglobin (Hb), lowest temperature, CPB duration, 24-hour blood loss, fluid balance, and overall transfusion requirements. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2011, the lowest intraoperative Hb levels and temperature increased from 8.5 ± 1.2 to 10.4 ± 1.4 g/dL and from 32 ± 2 to 34 ± 1°C, respectively. In addition to the steep decrease in the postoperative fluid balance over time, a reduction in 24-hour blood loss from 815 ± 588 mL (2002) to 590 ± 438 mL (2011) was observed. These changes were paralleled by a 28% reduction in overall RBC transfusion from 1443 units in 2002 to 1038 in 2011. While RBC transfusion decreased over time, there was no significant change in the use of FFP or PLT concentrate transfusion. The probability to receive RBC transfusion increased after cessation of aprotinin, but reduced after routine cell salvage in all operations. CONCLUSION: This institutional report shows a large reduction in blood loss and transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery over a 10-year period. This reduction is most probably attributed to structural cell salvage, reduced intraoperative fluid volumes, and the increase in the lowest intraoperative body temperature.

Intraoperative cell salvage is associated with reduced postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether implementation of cell salvage of shed mediastinal and residual blood in all patients undergoing low-to-moderate-risk cardiac surgery reduces the need for allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion compared to patients not subjected to cell salvage. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients undergoing low-to-moderate-risk cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass without (control; n = 531) or with cell salvage (n = 433; Autolog, Medtronic). Study endpoints, including 24-hour blood loss and RBC requirements, were evaluated using adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The cell saver group received 568 ± 267 mL of autologous blood. Median number of allogeneic RBC transfusions was higher in the control group (2 [1-5]) compared with the cell salvage group (1 [0-3]; p < 0.001). There were no clinically relevant differences in postoperative coagulation test results between groups. The relative risk (RR) for postoperative RBC transfusion was reduced to 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.83; p < 0.0001) in the cell salvage group. Moreover, patients in the cell salvage group had a lower chance for myocardial infarction (RR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08-0.91; p = 0.035), whereas the cell salvage group was associated with a higher probability for intensive care discharge within 24 hours after surgery (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02-1.14; p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The use of cell salvage throughout the entire procedure reduces postoperative blood loss and allogeneic RBC transfusion. These findings advocate implementation of cell salvage in all patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery, irrespective of anticipated surgery-related blood loss.

Removal of aprotinin from low-dose aprotinin/tranexamic acid antifibrinolytic therapy increases transfusion requirements in cardiothoracic surgery.

This retrospective study investigated whether withdrawal of aprotinin from combined low-dose aprotinin/tranexamic acid (TXA) antifibrinolytic therapy altered postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery employing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The study included data from patients receiving a combination of low-dose aprotinin (2×10(6) KIU in CPB prime; n=615) and 2000 mg TXA or patients receiving TXA only (n=587). In both groups, TXA was given after protamine administration. Study endpoints were blood loss, transfusion requirements and reoperation. There were no differences in EuroSCORE, CPB time, antiangial medication and baseline coagulation parameters between groups. There were more males in the TXA group (85%) as compared to the TXA+aprotinin group (77%; P=0.02). Postoperative blood loss (0.80±0.69 vs. 0.66±0.52 l; P=0.001) and transfusion of fresh frozen plasma (0.6±0.7 vs. 0.4±0.6 U; P<0.001), packed cells (3.9±5.5 vs. 2.7±3.3 U; P<0.001) and platelets (0.7±0.6 vs. 0.5±0.6 U; P<0.001) was higher in the TXA group than in patients receiving combined therapy, respectively. There were more reoperations for bleeding in the TXA group (53 vs. 34, respectively; P=0.03) with similar mortality and deterioration in glomerular filtration rate. In conclusion, withdrawal of aprotinin from combined antifibrinolytic therapy is associated with increased blood loss, transfusion requirements and reoperations.