Adverse Events and Risk Factors of Blood Transfusion in Cardiovascular Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Background: Hemodilution, transoperative bleeding and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are some of the factors associated with high transfusion rates in cardiac surgery. Objective: To analyze the incidence of blood transfusion and early postoperative outcomes in cardiac surgery patients. Methods: Cohort study of patients undergoing cardiac surgery in a university hospital, consecutively enrolled from May 2015 to February 2017. Data were prospectively collected and comparisons were made between two patients' groups: transfused and not transfused. Student's t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression were used, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among the 271 patients evaluated, 100 (37%) required transfusion in the transoperative (32.1%) and/or postoperative periods (19.5%). The following predictors of transfusion were identified by multivariate analysis: EuroScore II (OR 1.2); chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR 3.2); transoperative bleeding ≥ 500 mL (OR 6.7); baseline hemoglobin (Hb) ≤ 10 g/dL (OR 11.5); activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) (OR 1.1) and CPB duration (OR 1.03). Transfusion was associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (≥ 24h) (2.4% vs. 23%), delirium (5.9% vs. 18%), bronchopneumonia (1.2% vs. 16%), acute renal failure (3.5% vs. 25%), acute on CKD (0.6% vs. 8%), stroke or transient ischemic attack (1.8% vs. 8%), intensive care unit stay ≥ 72 h (36% vs. 57%), longer hospital stay (8 ± 4 days vs. 16 ± 15 days), as well as increased early mortality (1.75% vs. 15%). Conclusion: EuroScore II, CKD, major transoperative bleeding, preoperative Hb and aPTT values and CPB time were independent predictors of transfusion, which was associated with a higher rate of adverse outcomes, including early mortality.

Influence of intraoperative findings on immediate flow through radial-cephalic arteriovenous wrist fistulas for hemodialysis access / Influência dos achados intraoperatórios no fluxo imediato de fístulas radiocefálicas de punho para hemodiálise

Background: Adequate flow through a newly created arteriovenous fistula depends on multiple characteristics of the vessels and patient comorbidities. Several studies have related preoperative findings to failure, but few have analyzed the influence of intraoperative findings. Objectives: To evaluate the predictive value of intraoperative findings on the immediate outcome of radial-cephalic arteriovenous wrist fistulas (RCAVF) by collecting data that are easily measured intraoperatively. Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study, in which a single surgeon performed 101 RCAVF in 100 patients at a single center. We analyzed the immediate postoperative flow, assessed by thrill intensity immediately after fistula creation, against patient demographics and intraoperative data. The following variables were analyzed: age, sex, comorbidities, length of vein visible at preoperative examination, macroscopic arterial calcification, maximum vein diameter, and length of stenosis-free vein, measured by cannulation with a urethral catheter during the procedure. The chi-square test was used both to eliminate possible bias introduced by side of venous access (left or right), and to determine predictive values of immediate thrill. Results: Side of access was not associated with any significant differences in variables. Absence of macroscopic arterial calcification, successful venous catheterization using a 6 French catheter or larger, and ability to advance it more than 10 centimeters along the lumen of the proximal vein were correlated with adequate immediate postoperative thrill (p = 0.004, p < 0.001, and p = 0.005, respectively). Conclusions: In this series of 101 RCAVF, both the diameter of the catheter and its progress through the proximal vein and also absence of arterial calcification had positive predictive value for achieving adequate immediate thrill after vascular access construction

O fluxo adequado de uma fístula arteriovenosa recém-confeccionada depende de múltiplas características dos vasos, bem como de comorbidades do paciente. Diversos estudos associam achados pré-operatórios e suas relações à falha do acesso, mas poucos analisam a influência dos achados encontrados no intraoperatório. Objetivos: Avaliar o valor preditivo desses achados no fluxo imediato de fístulas arteriovenosas radiocefálicas de punho (FAVRCPs) para hemodiálise através de coleta de dados facilmente mensuráveis do intraoperatório. Métodos: Um único cirurgião realizou 101 FAVRCPs em 100 pacientes, em um único centro. Analisou-se o fluxo do pós-operatório imediato através da intensidade do frêmito imediatamente após a confecção do acesso, e os resultados foram comparados com dados demográficos e achados intraoperatórios. As variáveis analisadas foram sexo, idade, comorbidades, extensão da veia visível ao exame físico, presença de calcificação arterial macroscópica, diâmetro venoso máximo e extensão de veia livre de estenose, avaliadas através da cateterização venosa com sonda uretral durante o procedimento. O teste de qui-quadrado foi utilizado tanto para excluir um possível viés de confusão pelo lado do acesso como para avaliar o valor preditivo das variáveis na intensidade do frêmito. Resultados: Não foi identificada diferença significativa nas variáveis segundo o lado do acesso. A ausência de calcificação arterial, a possibilidade de cateterização venosa com sonda de 6 French ou maior, e a sua progressão por mais de 10 cm através do lúmen da veia proximal tiveram correlação com frêmito imediato adequado ao fim do procedimento (p = 0,004, p < 0,001 e p = 0,005, respectivamente). Conclusões: Nesta série de 101 FAVRCPs, o diâmetro e a progressão de cateter 6 French ou maior através da veia proximal e a ausência de calcificação arterial apresentaram valor preditivo positivo na obtenção de frêmito imediato adequado de FAVRCP para hemodiálise

Criterios de médicos anestesiólogos de ciudad de La Habana sobre el hematócrito perioperatorio y la indicación de glóbulos / Criteria of anesthesiologists from Havana City on the perioperative hematocrit and globule indication

Se informa que la terapéutica transfusional sufrió importantes cambios en la última década. Uno de ellos lo constituye el valor de hemoglobina aceptado durante el perioperatorio. Con el objetivo de conocer los criterios de una muestra de médicos-anestesiólogos de Ciudad de La Habana se realizó una encuesta en diferentes hospitales y se llegó a los siguientes resultados: 1. El 68 porciento de los médicos exige una hemoglobina de 10 g porciento para pacientes operados electivamente. 2. El 25 porciento de los médicos no exige una hemoglobina de 10 g porciento para operaciones urgentes. 3. El 2 porciento de los médicos transfunde intraoperatoriamente, porque la hemoglobina preoperatoria sea inferior a 10 g porciento y el 10 porciento por sangramiento mayor de 500 mL. 4. Para transfundir intraoperatoriamente glóbulos rojos a los pacientes toman en consideración los siguientes aspectos: a) compromiso del transporte de oxígeno; b) inestabilidad hemodinámica; c) hematócritos mínimos, siempre inferiores al 30 porciento y d) diferentes tanto por cientos de volumen perdido(AU)

The significant changes occurred in transfusional therapeutics in the last decade are reported in this paper. One of them is the haemoglobin value accepted during the perioperative period. A survey was done in different hospitals of Havana City in order to know the criteria of a sample of anesthesiologists. The results were as follows: l. 68 percent of the anesthesiologists demand a haemoglobin of 10g percent for patients undergoing elective surgery. 2. 25 percent of the patients do not require a haemoglobin of 10 g percent for urgent operations. 3. 2 percent of the anesthesiologists transfuse intraoperatively when preoperative haemoglobin is under 10 g percent and 10 percent do it due to bleeding over 500 mL. 4. To transfuse red blood cells intraoperatively to patients anesthesiologists take into consideration the following aspects: a) compromise of oxygen transport, b) hemodyanmic inestability; c) minimum haematocrits, always under 30 percent and d) different percentages of lost volume(AU)