RESUMEN
Cardiac surgeries account for approximately 20% of blood use in the United States. Allogeneic transfusion has been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality, further justifying the need to reduce blood use. This study aimed at determining whether a point-of-care coagulation test, thromboelastography (TEG), impacted blood product administration and outcomes. Patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were retrospectively reviewed before the use of TEG (2008-2009) (n = 640) and after implementation (2011-2012) (n = 458). Blood product use was compared between time frames. Logistic regression and generalized linear models were created to estimate the impact on outcomes including the reoperation rate, mortality, and cost. The mean use of each blood product was significantly reduced in the perioperative period. Overall blood product use was decreased by over 40%. Mediastinal re-exploration of bleeding was significantly reduced with TEG (4.8 vs. 1.5%). Six-month mortality was not impacted in this cohort nor was the readmission rate or hospital length of stay. However, blood cost and patient charges were significantly lower after TEG was introduced. The use of TEG to guide the administration of blood products during isolated CABG significantly affected the amounts and types of products given intra- and perioperatively. This resulted in less chest tube drainage, fewer returns to the operating room, and more accurate diagnosis of coagulopathic status. Cost savings to the patient and institution were appreciated as a consequence of these improved clinical outcomes.
Asunto(s)
Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Cardíacos , Tromboelastografía , Transfusión Sanguínea , Puente de Arteria Coronaria , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Transfusion of allogenic blood products is associated with substantial morbidity and increased risk of mortality. Thrombelastography (TEG) to direct transfusion management during and immediately after cardiothoracic surgery reduced blood product usage in our institution. The goal of this study was to quantify the impact of TEG on postoperative outcomes. METHODS: All patients who underwent cardiac surgical procedures before and after implementation of TEG were retrospectively analyzed. Baseline patient characteristics, blood product administration, and length of stay (LOS) were compared. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the impact of TEG on the odds of reoperation, LOS, and 6-month mortality. RESULTS: Included in analysis were 367 patients in the pre-TEG period and 310 patients in the post-TEG period. Baseline characteristics did not vary between periods. Exposure to blood products was significantly reduced after implementation of TEG (p < 0.001). The incidence of reoperation was lower in the post-TEG period (7.1% versus 3.5%, p = 0.04). Controlling for related factors on multivariate analysis, TEG was associated with reduction in postoperative LOS (11.3 versus 9.9 days, p = 0.04) and 6-month mortality (odds ratio 2.98, 95% confidence limits: 1.13 and 7.85). CONCLUSIONS: The use of TEG to guide blood product administration substantially affected patient outcomes, including LOS, odds of reoperation, and short-term mortality. The impacts appreciated may be due to the reduced use of allogenic blood products and the ability to distinguish between postoperative coagulopathy and surgical bleeding with the use of this point-of-care test.
Asunto(s)
Transfusión Sanguínea , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Cardíacos/efectos adversos , Complicaciones Posoperatorias/epidemiología , Tromboelastografía , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Cardíacos/mortalidad , Femenino , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Reoperación , Estudios Retrospectivos , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Complex cardiac procedures often require blood transfusion because of surgical bleeding or coagulopathy. Thrombelastography (TEG) was introduced in our institution to direct transfusion management in cardiothoracic surgery. The goal of this study was to quantify the effect of TEG on transfusion rates peri- and postoperatively. All patients who underwent complex cardiac surgery, defined as open multiple valve repair/replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting with open valve repair/replacement, or aortic root/arch repair before and after implementation of TEG were identified and retrospectively analyzed. Minimally invasive cases were excluded. Patient characteristics and blood use were compared with t test and chi-square test. A generalized linear model including patient characteristics, preoperative and postoperative lab values, and autotransfusion volume was used to determine the impact of TEG on perioperative, postoperative, and total blood use. In total, 681 patients were identified, 370 in the pre-TEG period and 311 patients post-TEG. Patient demographics were not significantly different between periods. Mean units of red blood cells, plasma, and cryoprecipitate were significantly reduced after TEG was implemented (all, p < .0001); use of platelets was reduced but did not reach significance. Mean units of all blood products in the perioperative period and over the entire stay were reduced by approximately 40% (both, p < .0001). Total proportion of patients exposed to transfusion was significantly lower after introduction of TEG (p < .01). Controlling for related factors on multivariate analysis, such as preoperative laboratory values and autotransfusion volume, use of TEG was associated with significant reduction in perioperative and overall blood product transfusion. TEG-directed management of blood product administration during complex cardiac surgeries significantly reduced the units of blood products received perioperatively but not blood usage more than 24 hours after surgery. Overall, fewer patients were exposed to allogenic blood. The use of TEG to guide blood product administration significantly impacted transfusion therapy and associated costs.