ClotPro Viscoelastometry Evaluation in Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of the new viscoelastic analyzer ClotPro, and compare the parameters this system produces with the ROTEM delta system in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). DESIGN: A prospective and observational study. SETTING: At a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Forty adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. INTERVENTIONS: Correlations were calculated between ClotPro and ROTEM delta parameters. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The ClotPro showed a high reproducibility in most of the parameters of each test; whereas ROTEM delta, although showing a low coefficient of variation in the parameters related to clot firmness, showed a high variability in the coagulation times. Excellent correlations were observed in most of the parameters of each test between ROTEM delta and ClotPro (≥0.93). However, a moderate correlation was obtained between the clotting time of the EXTEM and the EX-test (0.54). The concordance of amplitudes at different times within each test was almost 100% on both thromboelastometers. Regarding absolute differences in the test results, most of the measurements showed significant differences (p < 0.0001) between both devices. CONCLUSIONS: ClotPro can be used as an alternative to ROTEM delta to evaluate coagulation function in cardiac surgery, but specific reference ranges need to be established first.

Donor-specific circulating cell free DNA as a noninvasive biomarker of graft injury in heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Considerable effort has been exerted to develop noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers that might replace or reduce the need to perform endomyocardial biopsies. In this context, graft DNA circulating on transplant recipients has been proposed as a potential biomarker of organ rejection or cellular graft injury. METHODS: We propose a digital PCR (dPCR) method based on the amplification of ten specific InDels sufficiently sensitive to detect small amounts of specific donor circulating DNA diluted on the host cell free DNA (cfDNA). We obtained 23 informative mismatches from 30 host and donor organ biopsy pairs. RESULTS: Patients without heart-related complications showed a high increase in the specific genomic marker levels during the first 24 h after transplantation that dropped to the basal levels on days 3-4 post-surgery. In contrast, patients with complications presented a significantly lagged decay pattern from day one after transplantation. A specific donor cfDNA increase was detected in one patient two days before rejection diagnosis, diminishing the basal levels after successful immunotherapy. A cfDNA increase was also observed during graft injury due to heart damage. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that cfDNA monitoring of transplanted patients may be a useful tool to detect and probably anticipate graft rejection.

Point-of-care haemostasis monitoring during liver transplantation is cost effective.

Background Optimal haemostasis management in orthotropic liver transplant (OLT) could reduce blood loss and transfusion volume, improve patient outcomes and reduce cost. Methods We performed a study including 336 OLTs to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of a new point-of-care (POC)-based haemostatic management approach in OLT patients. Results In terms of health benefit we found that the new approach showed a significant reduction in transfusion requirements (red blood cell transfusion units were reduced from 5.3±4.6 to 2.8±2.9 [p<0.001], free frozen plasma from 3.1±3.3 to 0.4±1.0 [p<0.001] and platelets from 2.9±3.9 to 0.4±0.9 [p<0.001], transfusion avoidance, 9.7% vs. 29.1% [p<0.001] and massive transfusion, 14.5% vs. 3.8% [p=0.001]); we also found a significant improvement in patient outcomes, such, reoperation for bleeding or acute-kidney-failure (8.3% vs. 2.4%, p=0.015; 33.6% vs. 5.4%, p<0.001), with a significant reduction in the length of the hospital total stay (40.6±13.8 days vs. 38.2±14.4 days, p=0.001). The lowest cost incurred was observed with the new approach (€73,038.80 vs. €158,912.90) with significant patient saving associated to transfusion avoidance (€1278.36), ICU-stay (€3037.26), total-stay (€3800.76) and reoperation for bleeding (€80,899.64). Conclusions POC haemostatic monitoring during OLT is cost effective.

Point-of-care haemostasis monitoring during liver transplantation reduces transfusion requirements and improves patient outcome.

BACKGROUND: Optimal haemostasis management can improve patient outcomes and reduce blood loss and transfusion volume in orthotopic-liver-transplant (OLT). METHODS: We performed a prospective study including 200 consecutive OLTs. The first 100 patients were treated according to the clinic's standards and the next 100 patients were treated using the new point-of-care (POC)-based haemostasis management strategy. Transfusion parameters and other outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: Transfusion requirements were reduced in the POC group. The median and IQR of red-blood-cells (RBC) transfusion units were reduced from 5 [2-8] to 3 [0-5] (p < 0.001), plasma from 2 [0-4] to 0 (p < 0.001), and platelets from 1 [0-4] to 0 [0-1] (p < 0.001), into the POC group only four patients received tranexamic acid and fibrinogen transfusion rate was 1.13 ± 1.44 g (p = 0.001). We also improved the incidence of transfusion avoidance, 5% vs. 24% (p < 0.001) and reduced the incidence of massive transfusion (defined as the transfusion of more than 10 RBC units), 13% vs. 2% (p = 0.005). We also observed a relationship between RBC transfusion requirements and preoperative haemoglobin, and between platelet transfusion and preoperative fibrinogen levels. The incidence of postoperative complications, such as, reoperation for bleeding, acute-kidney-failure or haemodynamic instability was significantly lower (13.0% vs. 5%, p = 0.048, 17% vs. 2%, p < 0.001, and 29% vs. 16%, p = 0.028). Overall, blood product transfusion was associated with increased risk of postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: A haemostatic therapy algorithm based on POC monitoring reduced transfusion and improved outcome in OLT.

Mobile Laboratory Unit: a disruptor solution for hemostasis management during major surgery. Usage in the context of face transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The management of surgical bleeding during a face transplant in a patient diagnosed with bilateral neurofibromatosis is quite complex. With the actual methods and technology for hemostasis management, it may not always be possible to give the clinician the support needed to manage operative associated bleeding. Bedside hemostasis monitors are needed urgently to assist clinicians in making the correct diagnosis in a timely manner. METHODS: Our Mobile Laboratory Unit is a disruptive solution for hemostasis management during major surgery as it allows real-time monitoring, the predominant mechanism of bleeding and goal-direct coagulation therapy. The unit is an autonomous mobile platform that can be moved immediately to anywhere its service is needed and offers a complete flexible laboratory test which includes biochemistry, hematology and coagulation studies as standard equipment. RESULTS: In our case the test performed by the unit allowed us to identify the reason for our patient's bleeding at the bedside. Severely decreased clot firmness of the fibrin-based clot and a less impaired firmness of the whole blood clot, suggested an acceptable contribution of platelets to the clot quality, but decreased polymerization of fibrinogen into fibrin. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion new insights into the pathophysiology of coagulopathy, the availability of technology such as our Mobile Laboratory Unit, and awareness of side effects of intravenous fluids should encourage the idea that perhaps it is time to change hemostasis management in operation-related bleeding.