An Unanticipated Prolonged Baseline ACT During Cardiac Surgery Due to Factor XII Deficiency

Factor XII (FXII) deficiency is a congenital disorder inherited as an autosomal recessive condition. In his heterozygous form, it is relatively common in the general population. However, a total absence of FXII as seen in homozygous patients, is rare, with an incidence of approximately 1/1,000,000 individuals. Surprisingly, FXII deficiency is rather associated with thromboembolic complications. Patients do not experience a higher risk of surgical bleeding despite a markedly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. Given its low incidence in the general population, the finding of an unknown FXII deficiency is rare during cardiac surgery. This unique case describes a patient with an unanticipated prolonged baseline activated clotting time (ACT) during cardiac surgery in which his bleeding history and rotational thromboelastometry tracings lead us to the diagnosis of a FXII deficiency. The finding of a hypocoagulable INTEM tracing and a concurrent normal EXTEM tracing in a sample of a patient with prolonged ACT and adverse anamnestic bleeding history should prompt clinicians to consider a FXII deficiency. It may help clinicians in further perioperative management where there is not enough time to wait for the results of individual coagulation factor testing.

A Low-dose human fibrinogen is not effective in decreasing postoperative bleeding and transfusion requirements during cardiac surgery in case of concomitant clinical bleeding and low FIBTEM values: A retrospective matched study

Background: Studies evaluating the hemostatic effects of fibrinogen administration in cardiac surgery are not conclusive. Aims: We investigated whether the use of a low-dose human fibrinogen in case of clinical bleeding after protamine administration and concomitant low FIBTEM values is effective in reducing postoperative bleeding. Secondary end-point was to investigate the consumption of allogeneic blood products. Setting and Design: This was a retrospective matched study conducted at university hospital. Materials and Methods: Among 2257 patients undergoing surgery with cardiopulmonary (CPB) bypass, 73 patients received a median dose of 1 g human fibrinogen (ROTEM-Fibri group). This group was matched with 73 patients who had not received human fibrinogen (control group) among 390 patients having undergone surgery at the moment FIBTEM analysis was unavailable. Statistical Analysis: Matching was performed for the type and the presence of redo surgery. McNemar and Wilcoxon paired tests were used to respectively compare the categorical and quantitative variables. Results: The CPB bypass time was significantly higher in the ROTEM-Fibri group (P = 0.006). This group showed significantly higher bleeding in the first 12 and 24 h postoperatively (P < 0.001) and required significantly more transfusion of blood products (P < 0.001) and surgical revision (P = 0.007) when compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the number of thromboembolic complications. Conclusions: These results show that the administration of 1 g of fibrinogen based on low-FIBTEM values and clinical bleeding after protamine administration does not stop bleeding and the need for transfusion of allogeneic blood products.

The effectiveness of Thromboelastography (TEG) or thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to guide transfusion treatment versus usual care in liver transplant / A eficácia da tromboelastografia (TEG) ou tromboelastometria (ROTEM) para orientar o tratamento transfusional versus o tratamento usual no transplante de fígado / La eficacia de la tromboelastografía (TEG) o tromboelastometría (ROTEM) para guiar el tratamiento de transfusión versus la atención habitual en el trasplante de hígado

ABSTRACT The accuracy of the TEG/ROTEM as diagnostic test has been proved(19) and systematic reviews were performed to aggregate the evidence from different clinical scenarios (mainly cardiac surgery). Assess the impact of the intraoperative point of care use of TEG or ROTEM versus conventional coagulation tests (CCT) on the blood components transfusion, bleeding, complications, mortality, hospitalization and costs during adult LTX surgeries. I used PICOS framework to establish the research questions (objectives section) and the inclusion criteria. Type of studies included. The eligibility criteria were randomized controlled trials and non-randomized controlled trials (RCTs and non-RCTs). Primary outcomes: mortality at maximal follow up, allogeneic transfusion requirements: packaged red cells (PRC), platelets, fresh frozen plasma(FFP), cryoprecipitates), complications (medical adverse event that may be related to the coagulation status). Secondary outcomes: blood loss (however measured by authors), total hospital stays, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, costs (of the transplant surgery or of the patient in-hospital treatment). A total of 183 studies were identified and a PRISMA-based diagram was constructed and 8 of them were selected to assess. Six articles were found in full text and were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria. Five trials had the selected outcomes and inclusion criteria and the quality was assessed with a critical appraisal approach to identify bias and confounders. In conclusion, TEG/ROTEM directed blood products replacement in LTX might be effective in reducing FFP transfusion during the intraoperative. Further studies are required to confirm this finding and to assess the overall requirements of other blood products, bleeding mortality and complications.

RESUMEN La precisión del TEG / ROTEM como prueba de diagnóstico se ha demostrado (19) y se realizaron revisiones sistemáticas para agregar la evidencia de diferentes escenarios clínicos (principalmente cirugía cardíaca). Evaluar el impacto del uso de TEG o ROTEM en el punto de atención intraoperatoria versus las pruebas de coagulación (CCT) convencionales en la transfusión de componentes sanguíneos, sangrado, complicaciones, mortalidad, hospitalización y costos durante las cirugías de LTX en adultos. Utilicé el marco PICOS para establecer las preguntas de investigación (sección de objetivos) y los criterios de inclusión. Tipo de estudios incluidos. Los criterios de elegibilidad fueron los ensayos controlados aleatorios y los ensayos controlados no aleatorios (ECA y no controlados). Resultados primarios: mortalidad en el seguimiento máximo, requisitos de transfusión alogénica: glóbulos rojos envasados ​​(PRC), plaquetas, plasma fresco congelado (FFP), crioprecipitados, complicaciones (evento adverso médico que puede estar relacionado con el estado de coagulación). Resultados secundarios: pérdida de sangre (sin embargo, medida por los autores), estadías totales en el hospital, estadía en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI), costos (de la cirugía de trasplante o del tratamiento hospitalario del paciente). Se identificaron un total de 183 estudios y se construyó un diagrama basado en PRISMA y se seleccionaron 8 de ellos para evaluar. Se encontraron seis artículos en texto completo y se examinaron para criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Cinco ensayos tuvieron los resultados seleccionados y los criterios de inclusión, y la calidad se evaluó con un enfoque de evaluación crítica para identificar sesgos y factores de confusión. En conclusión, el reemplazo de productos sanguíneos dirigidos por TEG / ROTEM en LTX podría ser eficaz para reducir la transfusión de FFP durante el tratamiento intraoperatorio. Se requieren estudios adicionales para confirmar este hallazgo y evaluar los requisitos generales de otros productos sanguíneos, la mortalidad por sangrado y las complicaciones.

RESUMO A precisão do TEG / ROTEM como teste diagnóstico tem sido comprovada (19) e revisões sistemáticas foram realizadas para agregar as evidências de diferentes cenários clínicos (principalmente cirurgia cardíaca). Avaliar o impacto do uso de TEG ou ROTEM no ponto intraoperatório versus testes convencionais de coagulação (TCC) na transfusão de hemocomponentes, sangramento, complicações, mortalidade, hospitalização e custos durante cirurgias de LTX em adultos. Eu usei o framework PICOS para estabelecer as questões de pesquisa (seção de objetivos) e os critérios de inclusão. Tipo de estudos incluídos. Os critérios de elegibilidade foram ensaios clínicos randomizados e não-randomizados controlados (ECRs e não-ECR). Desfechos primários: mortalidade no seguimento máximo, necessidade de transfusão alogênica: eritrócitos empacotados (PRC), plaquetas, plasma fresco congelado (FFP), crioprecipitados), complicações (evento adverso médico que pode estar relacionado ao estado de coagulação). Desfechos secundários: perda de sangue (porém medida pelos autores), internação total, internação em unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI), custos (da cirurgia de transplante ou do tratamento intra-hospitalar do paciente). Um total de 183 estudos foram identificados e um diagrama baseado no PRISMA foi construído e 8 deles foram selecionados para avaliação. Seis artigos foram encontrados em texto completo e foram selecionados para inclusão e critérios de exclusão. Cinco ensaios tiveram os resultados selecionados e critérios de inclusão e a qualidade foi avaliada com uma abordagem de avaliação crítica para identificar vieses e fatores de confusão. Em conclusão, o TEG / ROTEM direcionado à reposição de hemoderivados no LTX pode ser eficaz na redução da transfusão de PFC durante o intraoperatório. Mais estudos são necessários para confirmar este achado e para avaliar os requisitos gerais de outros produtos sangüíneos, sangramento da mortalidade e complicações.

Sudden cardiovascular collapse after platelet transfusion during liver transplantation: flat-line thromboelastometry and inferred pulmonary thromboembolism: A case report

Despite the well-known bleeding diathesis in patients with end-stage liver disease, inappropriate hypercoagulation is also emerging as a major concern. Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality during liver transplantation (LT). Flat-line thromboelastography is reported to predict PTE during LT. In this case, a 52-year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent living-related LT. During the pre-anhepatic phase, one unit of apheresis platelets was transfused because of thrombocytopenia (32,000 /ml). After 20 minutes, blood pressure became unstable and circulatory collapse suddenly developed. In the middle of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, transesophageal echocardiography was immediately conducted, which revealed flail thrombi in the right atrium. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) conducted at that time was surprisingly flat in 4 channels, contradictory to the finding of hypercoagulation. This finding lead to a management dilemma during LT. Flattening in ROTEM requires caution in interpretation of severe hypocoagulation or ongoing PTE.