Coagulopathies in cyanotic cardiac patients: An analysis with three point - of - care testing devices (Thromboelastography, rotational thromboelastometry, and sonoclot analyzer).

INTRODUCTION: In the last few years, viscoelastic point-of-care (POC) coagulation devices such as thromboelastography (TEG), rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), and Sonoclot (SON) analyzer have been increasingly used in major surgeries for timely assessment and management of coagulopathies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate coagulation profile of cyanotic cardiac patients with TEG, ROTEM, and SON analyzer. In addition, we assessed the correlation of standard laboratory coagulation tests and postoperative chest drain output (CDO) with the parameters of POC testing devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients of either gender, belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I-III, and undergoing elective cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass for cyanotic congenital heart disease were included in this study. To identify possible coagulation abnormalities, blood samples for TEG, ROTEM, SON, and standard laboratory coagulation were collected after induction of anesthesia. The correlations between variables were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: EXTEM clot time (CT) and clot formation time (CFT) were prolonged in 87% and 45% patients whereas INTEM CT and CFT were prolonged in 36% and 73% patients, respectively. FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF) was decreased in 30% patients. We observed significant correlation between fibrinogen concentration and ROTEM FIBTEM MCF (r = 0.94, P < 0.001). The SON platelet function (SON PF) showed good correlation with platelet count (r = 0.85, P < 0.001). We also found significant correlation between preoperative FIBTEM MCF and CDO in first 4 postoperative hours (r = 0.49, P = 0.004) and 24 postoperative hours (r = 0.52, P = 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that SON PF and TEG maximum amplitude are highly predictive of thrombocytopenia below 100 × 109/L (area under the curve [AUC] - 0.97 and 0.92, respectively), while FIBTEM-MCF is highly predictive of hypofibrinogenemia (fibrinogen <150 mg/dL (AUC, 0.99). CONCLUSION: Cyanotic cardiac patients have preoperative coagulation abnormalities in ROTEM, TEG, and SON parameters. ROTEM FIBTEM is highly predictive of hypofibrinogenemia while SON PF is highly predictive of thrombocytopenia. ROTEM FIBTEM can be studied as a marker of increased postoperative CDO.

Basic arterial blood gas biomarkers as a predictor of mortality in tetralogy of Fallot patients.

BACKGROUND: Serum lactate and base deficit have been shown to be a predictor of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Poor preoperative oxygenation appears to be one of the significant factors that affects early mortality in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). There is little published literature evaluating the utility of serum lactate, base excess (BE), and oxygen partial pressure (PO 2 ) as simple, widely available, prognostic markers in patients undergoing surgical repair of TOF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, observational study was conducted in 150 TOF patients, undergoing elective intracardiac repair. PO 2 , BE, and lactate levels at three different time intervals were recorded. Arterial blood samples were collected after induction (T1), after cardiopulmonary bypass (T2), and 48 h (T3) after surgery in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). To observe the changes in PO 2 , BE, and lactate levels over a period of time, repeated measures analysis was performed with Bonferroni method. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to find area under curve (AUC) and cutoff values of various biomarkers for predicting mortality in ICU. RESULTS: The patients who could not survive showed significant elevated lactate levels at baseline (T1) and postoperatively (T2) as compared to patients who survived after surgery (P < 0.001). However, in nonsurvivors, the BE value decreased significantly in the postoperative period in comparison to survivors (-2.8 ± 4.27 vs. 5.04 ± 2.06) (P < 0.001). In nonsurvivors, there was a significant fall of PO 2 to a mean value of 59.86 ± 15.09 in ICU (T3), whereas those who survived had a PO 2 of 125.86 ± 95.09 (P < 0.001). The ROC curve analysis showed that lactate levels (T3) have highest mortality predictive value (AUC: 96.9%) as compared to BE (AUC: 94.5%) and PO 2 (AUC: 81.1%). CONCLUSION: Serum lactate and BE may be used as prognostic markers to predict mortality in patients undergoing TOF repair. The routine analysis of these simple, fast, widely available, and cost-effective biomarkers should be encouraged to predict prognosis of TOF patients.

Global end-diastolic volume an emerging preload marker vis-a-vis other markers - Have we reached our goal?

A reliable estimation of cardiac preload is helpful in the management of severe circulatory dysfunction. The estimation of cardiac preload has evolved from nuclear angiography, pulmonary artery catheterization to echocardiography, and transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD). Global end-diastolic volume (GEDV) is the combined end-diastolic volumes of all the four cardiac chambers. GEDV has been demonstrated to be a reliable preload marker in comparison with traditionally used pulmonary artery catheter-derived pressure preload parameters. Recently, a new TPTD system called EV1000™ has been developed and introduced into the expanding field of advanced hemodynamic monitoring. GEDV has emerged as a better preload marker than its previous conventional counterparts. The advantage of it being measured by minimum invasive methods such as PiCCO™ and newly developed EV1000™ system makes it a promising bedside advanced hemodynamic parameter.

Simulation in coagulation testing using rotational thromboelastometry: A fast emerging, reliable point of care technique.

Computer simulations can come in handy to train medical personnel with necessary skills to face the clinical scenarios involving various coagulopathies. Now a days, point of care (POC) devices such as thromboelastography, Sonoclot analyzer and newly approved rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) with faster results to assess coagulopathies are available on bedside of patients. ROTEM is emerging as a quick, portable, and well-validated device to evaluate coagulopathy in critical care and perioperative setup. A novel platelet-aggregometry integrated module enables simultaneous analysis of platelets as well as coagulation tests on the same screen. The entire gamut of POC signature curves obtained with different coagulation defects can be learned with graphical simulations. These simulations can be a valuable strategy to elucidate latent conditions, for which simulation interventions can then be designed to mimic different clinical scenarios.