First experience with a ROTEM-enhanced transfusion algorithm in patients undergoing aortic arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk technique. A theranostic approach to patient blood management.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM)-enhanced transfusion algorithm with hemostatic agents on allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing frozen elephant trunk (FET) surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary-care center. SETTING: A tertiary care referral center for cardiac surgery. PATIENTS: All patients undergoing elective FET were included in the study. INTERVENTION: Until 2016, a protocol based on estimated blood losses and conventional coagulation tests was used. After, a ROTEM-enhanced transfusion protocol was adopted. MEASUREMENTS: The transfusion rate of each blood component was observed and reported. METHODS: Retrospective, observational study. MAIN RESULTS: Out of 40 consecutive patients, 19 underwent FET surgery with a conventional transfusion approach and 21 with a ROTEM-enhanced transfusion strategy. Considering the overall transfusion rate, the administration of fresh frozen plasma and platelets was significantly lower in the ROTEM compared to conventional group (1000 [0-2500] vs 0 [0-875] ml, p = 0.015 and 1 [1, 2] vs 0 [0-1], p = 0.016, respectively). ROTEM algorithm allowed to decrease the number of patients who required plasma and platelets transfusion of 31%. Furthermore, a 40% reduction in overall allogenic blood products was observed. Number of red blood cells administered, percentage of patients transfused with red blood cells, blood losses, reoperation for bleeding and mortality did not significantly differ between the two groups. At the multiple linear regression analysis only ROTEM algorithm was associated with a significant decrease in the number of plasma and platelets units administered intraoperatively, at 24 h, at the ICU discharge and overall. ROTEM algorithm allowed to save 1435 ml of plasma, 0.91 unit of platelets and overall transfusion cost of the 21% per patient. CONCLUSIONS: A ROTEM-enhanced transfusion strategy halved intraoperative transfusion in the setting of FET. Further studies are needed to confirm the magnitude of our findings on clinically relevant endpoints.

Trials Focusing on Prevention and Treatment of Delirium After Cardiac Surgery: A systematic Review of Randomized Evidence.

BACKGROUND: Delirium after cardiac surgery is associated with adverse outcomes, including prolonged hospital stay, prolonged intensive care unit stay, and increased mortality. Effective preventive interventions and treatments still are largely unknown. AIM: This systematic review aimed to gather and summarize the existing evidence from randomized trials concerning interventions studied in the prevention or treatment of delirium in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature using a key word strategy and Boolean operators was performed. PubMed and the Cochrane and Scopus databases were searched for pertinent studies until July 2018 (no inception limit). RESULTS: Of 2,556 articles identified, 56 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review-39 addressed pharmacologic strategies and 17 nonpharmacologic interventions. Interestingly, 51 (91%) trials focused on delirium prevention and only 5 (9%) on delirium treatment. Most of the analyzed studies were recent double-blind, single-center trials conducted in Europe or North America, with a low risk of bias. Overall, 38 different interventions were identified: 15 (26%) interventions were performed before surgery, 20 (36%) in the operating room, and 21 (38%) after surgery. The most frequently analyzed strategies were the administration of dexmedetomidine, ketamine, antipsychotics, glucocorticoids, propofol, opioids, volatile anesthetics, local anesthetics, and remote ischemic preconditioning. The analyzed strategies were extremely heterogenous, and dexmedetomidine was the most promising measure able to prevent the development of postoperative delirium. CONCLUSIONS: In the present systematic review of 56 randomized controlled trials that examined 38 interventions, the authors found that dexmedetomidine was the most frequently studied agent and that it might reduce the occurrence of delirium after cardiac surgery.

Intermittent furosemide administration in patients with or at risk for acute kidney injury: Meta-analysis of randomized trials.

BACKGROUND: Furosemide is the most common loop diuretic used worldwide. The off-label administration of furosemide bolus(es) for the prevention or to reverse acute kidney injury (AKI) is widespread but not supported by available evidence. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized trials (RCTs) to investigate whether bolus furosemide to prevent or treat AKI is detrimental on patients' survival. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched through October 2017 for RCTs comparing bolus furosemide administration versus any comparator in patients with or at risk for AKI. The primary endpoint was all-cause longest follow-up mortality. Secondary endpoints included new or worsening AKI, receipt of renal replacement therapy, length of hospital stay, and peak serum creatinine after randomization. RESULTS: A total of 28 studies randomizing 3,228 patients were included in the analysis. We found no difference in mortality between the two groups (143/892 [16%] in the furosemide group versus 141/881 [16%] in the control group; odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63 to 1.13; p = 0.25). No significant differences in secondary outcomes were found. A significant improvement in survival was found in the subgroup of patients receiving furosemide bolus(es) as a preventive measure (43/613 [7.0%] versus 67/619 [10.8%], OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.94; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent furosemide administration is not associated with an increased mortality in patients with or at risk for AKI, although it may reduce mortality when used as a preventive measure. Future high-quality RCTs are needed to define the role of loop diuretics in AKI prevention and management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO database for systematic reviews (Registration no. CRD42017078607 - http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42017078607).