ABSTRACT
Acquired hypofibrinogenemia is a frequent cause of maintained bleeding in perioperative high-risk settings. Loss, consumption and dilution under resuscitation fluid therapy are the principal causes for fibrinogen depletion. Severe hypofibrinogenemia is frequently associated with an early bleeding complication that cannot be reliably avoided with high-ratio plasma transfusion strategies. Real-time monitoring with viscoelastic hemostatic assays is a useful tool for timely diagnosis and treatment of detected coagulopathies. Replenishment of fibrinogen in uncontrolled bleeding events is currently recommended by most published guidelines, suggesting treatment thresholds to maintain a minimum of 1.5 g/L plasma fibrinogen concentration for nonobstetrical hemorrhage. Fibrinogen concentrates, originally licensed for treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with congenital hypo-, dys- or afibrinogenemia disorders, are used in many clinical situations as supplementary therapy for the treatment of acquired hypofibrinogenemia. This review seeks to provide an overview of the most relevant topics associated to fibrinogen replacement therapy for critical perioperative hemorrhage highlighting currently available evidence on the risk/benefit profile of purified fibrinogen concentrates for this extended clinical indication.