Implementation of a comprehensive blood conservation program can reduce blood use in a community cardiac surgery program.

OBJECTIVE: The study objective was to determine the effects of implementing a blood conservation algorithm on blood product use and outcomes in a community cardiac surgery program. METHODS: A blood management strategy including lower hemoglobin transfusion threshold and algorithm-driven decisions was adopted. Intraoperatively, point-of-care testing was used to avoid inappropriate component transfusion. A low prime perfusion circuit was adopted. Blood was withdrawn from patients before initiating bypass when possible. Patients undergoing coronary and valve procedures were included. Outlier patients receiving more than 10 units packed red blood cells were excluded. Data were collected for 6 months as a baseline group (group I). A 3-month period of program implementation was allotted. Data were subsequently collected for 6 months and comprised the study patients (group II). Prospective data were collected on demographics, blood use, and outcomes. RESULTS: Group I comprised 481 patients, and group II comprised 551 patients. Group II received fewer units of packed red blood cells, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate than group I. There was no difference in platelets transfused. Total blood product use was reduced by 40% in group II (P < .001). The overall 30-day mortality was 1.3%. There were no differences in mortality, reoperation for bleeding, or other postoperative outcomes between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a comprehensive blood conservation algorithm can be rapidly introduced, leading to reductions in blood and component use with no detrimental effect on early outcomes. Point-of-care testing can direct component transfusion in coagulopathic cases, with most coagulopathic patients requiring platelets. Further research will determine the effects of reduced transfusions on long-term outcomes.

Cerebral oxygen desaturation predicts cognitive decline and longer hospital stay after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported an 11% to 75% incidence of postoperative cognitive decline among cardiac surgery patients. The INVOS Cerebral Oximeter (Somanetics Corp, Troy, MI) is a Food and Drug Administration approved device that measures regional cerebral oxygen (rSo(2)) saturation. The purpose of this study is to examine whether decreased rSo(2) predicts cognitive decline and prolonged hospital stay after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: The rSo(2) was monitored intraoperatively in a cohort of primary CABG patients. Patients were prospectively randomized to a blinded control group or an unblinded intervention group. Cognitive function was assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at 3 months using a battery of standardized neurocognitive tests. Cognitive decline was defined as a decrease of one standard deviation or more in performance on at least one neurocognitive measure. The rSo(2) desaturation score was calculated by multiplying rSo(2) below 50% by time (seconds). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess cognitive decline and hospital stay. The change in cognitive performance was also assessed using a multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: Patients with rSo(2) desaturation score greater than 3,000%-second had a significantly higher risk of early postoperative cognitive decline [p = 0.024]. Patients with rSo(2) desaturation score greater than 3,000%-second also had a near threefold increased risk of prolonged hospital stay (>6 days) [p = 0.007]. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative cerebral oxygen desaturation is significantly associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and prolonged hospital stay after CABG.

Polymerized bovine hemoglobin solution as a replacement for allogeneic red blood cell transfusion after cardiac surgery: results of a randomized, double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Blood loss leading to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity is usually treated with red blood cell transfusions. This study examined the hypothesis that a hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solution can serve as an initial alternative to red blood cell transfusion. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind efficacy trial of HBOC-201, a total of 98 patients undergoing cardiac surgery and requiring transfusion were randomly assigned to receive either red blood cell units or HBOC-201 (Hemopure; Biopure Corporation, Cambridge, Mass) for the first three postoperative transfusions. Patients were monitored before and after transfusion, at discharge, and at 3 to 4 weeks after the operation for subsequent red blood cell use, hemodynamics, and clinical laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The use of HBOC-201 eliminated the need for red blood cell transfusions in 34% of cases (95% confidence interval 21%-49%). Patients in the HBOC group received a mean of 1.72 subsequent units of red blood cells; those who received red blood cells only received a mean of 2.19 subsequent units (P =.05). Hematocrit values were transiently lower in the HBOC group but were similar in the two groups at discharge and follow-up. Oxygen extraction was greater in the HBOC group (P =.05). Mean increases in blood pressure were greater in the HBOC group, but not significantly so. CONCLUSION: HBOC-201 may be an initial alternative to red blood cell transfusions for patients with moderate anemia after cardiac surgery. In a third of cases, HBOC-201 eliminated the need for red blood cell transfusion, although substantial doses were needed to produce this modest degree of blood conservation.