Bleeding, transfusion and the risk of stroke after coronary surgery: A prospective cohort study of 2357 patients

Nomogram for predicting major bleeding after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this investigation is to develop a novel nomogram for predicting major bleeding following off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

METHODS

Between January 2012 and December 2022, 541 patients who underwent off-pump isolated primary CABG were included in a retrospective analysis. The primary outcome measure after off-pump CABG was major bleeding. Based on the outcomes of a multivariate analysis, nomograms were constructed. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis and calibration, the predictive accuracy of the nomograms was assessed. Using decision curve analysis (DCA), the clinical benefit of the nomograms was determined.

RESULTS

We categorized 399 and 142 patients in the "no major bleeding group" and "major bleeding group", respectively. Age (odds ratio (OR) 1.038; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.009-1.068; p = 0.009), body mass index (OR 0.913; 95% CI 0.849-0.982; p = 0.014), hemoglobin (OR 0.958; 95% CI 0.945-0.971; p < 0.001), sodium (OR 0.873; 95% CI 0.807-0.945; p = 0.001), blood urea nitrogen (OR 1.198; 95% CI 1.073-1.338; p = 0.001), and operation time (OR 1.012; 95% CI 1.008-1.017; p < 0.001) were independent predictors for major bleeding after off-pump CABG. The model based on independent predictors exhibited excellent discrimination and calibration, with good agreement between actual and nomogram-estimated probabilities of generalization. DCA demonstrated that nomogram-assisted decisions have a greater positive benefit than treating all patients or none.

CONCLUSIONS

The plotted nomogram accurately predicted major bleeding outcomes following off-pump CABG and may therefore contribute to clinical decision-making, patient treatment, and consultation services.

Impact of minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation on perioperative intravenous fluid management in coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE

Compare the use of blood products and intravenous fluid management in patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery and randomized to minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation (MiECC) and conventional extracorporeal circulation (CECC).

METHODS

A total of 240 patients who were scheduled for their first on-pump CABG, were randomized to MiECC or CECC groups. The study period was the first 84 hours after surgery. Hemoglobin <80 g/l was used as transfusion trigger.

RESULTS

Red blood cell transfusions intraoperatively were given less often in the MiECC group (23.3% vs 9.2%, p = 0.005) and the total intravenous fluid intake was significantly lower in the MiECC group (3300 ml [2950-4000] vs 4800 ml [4000-5500], p < 0.001). Hemoglobin drop also was lower in the MiECC group (35.5 ± 8.9 g/l vs 50.7 ± 9 g/l, p < 0.001) as was hemoglobin drop percent (25.3 ± 6% vs 35.3 ± 5.9%, p < 0.001). Chest tube drainage output was higher in the MiECC group (645 ml [500-917.5] vs 550 ml [412.5-750], p = 0.001). Particularly, chest tube drainage in up to 600 ml category, was in benefit of CECC group (59.1% vs 40.8%, p = 0.003). ROC curve analysis showed that patients with hemoglobin level below 95 g/l upon arrival to intensive care unit was associated with increased risk of developing postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) (p = 0.002, auc = 0.61, cutoff <95, sensitivity = 0.47, positive predictive value = 0.64).

CONCLUSION

MiECC reduced the intraoperative need for RBC transfusion and intravenous fluids compared to the CECC group, also reducing hemoglobin drop compared to the CECC group in CABG surgery patients. Postoperative hemoglobin drop was a predictor of POAF.

A Blinded Randomized Trial Comparing Standard Activated Clotting Time Heparin Management to High Target Active Clotting Time and Individualized Hepcon HMS Heparin Management in Cardiopulmonary Bypass Cardiac Surgical Patients

Purpose: High-dose heparin has been suggested to reduce consumption coagulopathy.

Materials and Methods: In a randomized, blinded, prospective trial of patients undergoing elective, complex cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, patients were randomized to one of three groups: 1) high-dose heparin (HH) receiving an initial heparin dose of 450 u/kg, 2) heparin concentration monitoring (HC) with Hepcon Hemostasis Management System (HMS; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) monitoring, or 3) a control group (C) receiving a standard heparin dose of 300 u/kg. Primary outcome measures were blood loss and transfusion requirements.

Results: There were 269 patients block randomized based on primary versus redo sternotomy to one of the three groups from August 2001 to August 2003. There was no difference in operative bleeding between the groups. Chest tube drainage did not differ between treatment groups at 8 hours (median [25th percentile, 75th percentile] for control group was 321 [211, 490] compared to 340 [210, 443] and 327 [250, 545], p = 0.998 and p = 0.540, for HH and HC treatment groups, respectively). The percentage of patients receiving transfusion was not different among the groups.

Conclusion: Higher heparin dosing accomplished by either activated clot time or HC monitoring did not reduce 24-hour intensive care unit blood loss or transfusion requirements.

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation After Surgical Repair of Type A Aortic Dissection

Venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) in patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is controversial and the available evidence is confined to limited case series. We aimed to evaluate the impact of this salvage therapy in this patient population. Between January 2010 and March 2018, all TAAD patients receiving VA-ECMO for PCS were retrieved from the PC-ECMO registry. Hospital mortality and other secondary outcomes were compared with PCS patients undergoing surgery for other cardiac pathologies and treated with VA-ECMO. Among the 781 patients in the PC-ECMO registry, 62 (7.9%) underwent TAAD repair and required VA-ECMO support for PCS. In-hospital mortality accounted for 46 (74.2%) patients, while 23 (37.1%) were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO. No significant differences were observed between the TAAD and non-TAAD cohorts with reference to in-hospital mortality (74.2% vs 63.4%, p = 0.089). However, patients in the TAAD group had a higher rate of neurological events (33.9% vs 17.6%, p = 0.002), but similar rates of reoperation for bleeding/tamponade (48.4% vs 41.5%, p = 0.29), transfusion of ≥10 red blood cell units (77.4% vs 69.5%, p = 0.19), new-onset dialysis (56.7% vs 53.1%, p = 0.56), and other secondary outcomes. VA-ECMO provides a valid support for patients affected by PCS after surgery for TAAD.

Postoperative complications associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and their therapeutic interventions

Coronary artery disease is one of the commonest surgery demanding cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is practiced all over the world for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Systemic trauma during the surgery is associated with a wide range of complications, some of which are fatal. Preoperative risk factors such as age, previous illness and obesity are common predictors of these adverse events. Advances in therapeutic medicine have allowed timely treatment of these adverse events and co-morbidities. This review summarizes some of the most occurring complications associated with coronary artery bypass graft and corresponding treatment options.

Predictive scores for major bleeding after coronary artery bypass surgery in low operative risk patients

BACKGROUND

Cardiac surgery is associated with perioperative bleeding and carries high risk of allogeneic blood transfusion. Recently new scores for prediction of severe bleeding have been developed. This study aims to compare the WILL-BLEED, CRUSADE, PAPWORTH, TRUST, TRACK and ACTION scores in predicting major bleeding after CABG in patients with low estimated operative risk.

METHODS

A multicenter observational study included 1391 patients who underwent isolated CABG from July 2015 to January 2018. We tested the hypothesis that the WILL-BLEED score, specifically designed for CABG, would perform at least as well as the CRUSADE, PAPWORTH, TRUST, TRACK and ACTION scores in predicting postoperative major bleeding in low operative risk patients. The primary endpoint was the performance of known bleeding risk scores after CABG. The secondary endpoint was the evaluation of in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Mean age was 68.2±9.4 years and median Euroscore II value was 1.69% (IQR 1.15-2.81%). Mean blood losses in the first 12 postoperative hours was 339.75 mL. Seventy-three (5.2%) subjects underwent administration of blood products. The rate of severe-massive bleeding according to UDPB grades 3-4 was 1.5%. WILL-BLEED, TRUST, TRACK and ACTION scores were significantly associated with severe postoperative bleeding. WILL-BLEED presented the best c-index (AUC: 0.658; 95% CI: 0.600,0.716). Reclassification analysis showed a worsening in sensitivity and significant negative reclassification of CRUSADE, PAPWORTH, TRACK and ACTION scores when compared with WILL-BEED. The combination of WILL-BLEED and TRUST scores improved the prediction ability (AUC: 0.673; 95% CI: 0.615-0.732). Overall in-hospital mortality was 1.65%. Early mortality in patients with severe versus no-severe bleeding was found to be 11.8% vs. 1.0% Severe bleeding (OR: 13.26; P value<0.001) was found to be significantly associated with early mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe bleeding after CABG is a harmful event associated with adverse outcomes. WILL-BLEED Score has the better performance in predicting severe-massive bleeding after CABG. The TRUST Score, although suboptimal, represents a valuable alternative in this setting.

The Prognostic Significance of Different Bleeding Classifications in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

BACKGROUND

Perioperative bleeding during cardiac surgery are known to make patients susceptible to adverse outcomes and several bleeding classifications have been developed to stratify the severity of bleeding events. Further validation of different classifications was needed. The aim of present study was to validate and explore the prognostic value of different bleeding classifications in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB).

METHODS

Data on baseline and operative characteristics of 3988 patients who underwent OPCAB in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from February 2008 to December 2014 were available. The primary endpoint was a composite of in-hospital death and nonfatal postoperative myocardial infarction (MI). The secondary endpoint was postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). We explored the association of major bleeding defined by the European registry of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (E-CABG), Universal Definition of Perioperative Bleeding (UDPB), Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) classification and Study of Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) with primary endpoints by multivariable logistic regression analysis and investigated their significance of adverse event prediction using goodness-of-fit tests of - 2 log likelihood.

RESULTS

In-hospital mortality was 1.23% (n = 49) and postoperative MI was observed in 4.76% (n = 190) of patients, AKI in 24.69% (n = 985). The incidence of the primary outcome was 5.99% (n = 239). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that BARC type 4 (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.66-4.19, P < 0.001), UDPB class 4 (OR = 3.52, 95% CI: 2.05-6.02, P < 0.001) and E-CABG class 2-3 (class 2: OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.36-3.70, P = 0.001; class 3: OR = 12.65, 95% CI: 2.74-18.43, P = 0.002) bleeding but not PLATO bleeding were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death and postoperative MI. Major bleeding defined by all the four classifications mentioned above was an independent risk factor of AKI after surgery. Inclusion of major bleeding defined by these four classifications improved the predictive performance of the multivariable model with baseline characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Bleeding assessed by BARC, E-CABG and UDPB classifications were significantly associated with poorer immediate outcomes. These classifications seemed to be valuable tool in the assessment of prognostic effect of perioperative bleeding.

Absence of perioperative excessive bleeding in on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting cases performed by residents

OBJECTIVES

On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with elevated bleeding risk. Our aim was to evaluate the role of surgical experience in postoperative blood loss.

METHODS

A propensity score-matched analysis was employed to compare on-pump CABG patients operated on by residents and specialists. End points included drainage volume and bleeding severity, as assessed by the Universal Definition of Perioperative Bleeding in cardiac surgery and E-CABG scale.

RESULTS

A total of 212 matched pairs (c-statistics 0.693) were selected from patients operated on by residents (n = 294) and specialists (n = 4394) between October 2012 and May 2018. Patients did not differ in bleeding risk. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative 6-, 12- and 24-h drainages between subjects operated on by residents and specialists, and there was no between-group difference in rethoracotomy or transfusion rate. There were no differences in Universal Definition of Perioperative Bleeding or E-CABG grades. In June 2018, after a median follow-up of 2.8 years (range 0.1-5.7 years), the overall survival was 94%, with no differences between the patients operated on by residents (95%) and specialists (92%) (P = 0.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing on-pump CABG, when operated on by a resident, are not exposed to an elevated bleeding risk, as compared with patients operated on by experienced surgeons.

Impact of minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation on the need of red blood cell transfusion

OBJECTIVE

Minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation may decrease the need of packed red blood cell transfusions and reduce hemodilution during cardiopulmonary bypass. However, more data are needed on the effects of minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation in more complex cardiac procedures. We compared minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation and conventional extracorporeal circulation methods of cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODS

A total of 424 patients in the minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation group and 844 patients in the conventional extracorporeal circulation group undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and more complex cardiac surgery were evaluated. Age, sex, type of surgery, and duration of perfusion were used as matching criteria. Hemoglobin <80 g/L was used as red blood cell transfusion trigger. The primary endpoint was the use of red blood cells during the day of operation and the five postoperative days. Secondary endpoints were hemodilution (hemoglobin drop after the onset of perfusion) and postoperative bleeding from the chest tubes during the first 12 hours after the operation.

RESULTS

Red blood cell transfusions were needed less often in the minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation group compared to the conventional extracorporeal circulation group (26.4% vs. 33.4%, p = 0.011, odds ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.93), especially in coronary artery bypass grafting subgroup (21.3% vs. 35.1%, p < 0.001, odds ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.35-0.73). Hemoglobin drop after onset of perfusion was also lower in the minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation group than in the conventional extracorporeal circulation group (24.2 ± 8.5% vs. 32.6 ± 12.6%, p < 0.001). Postoperative bleeding from the chest tube did not differ between the groups (p = 0.808).

CONCLUSION

Minimal invasive extracorporeal circulation reduced the need of red blood cell transfusions and hemoglobin drop when compared to the conventional extracorporeal circulation group. This may have implications when choosing the perfusion method in cardiac surgery.

Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) has recently emerged as an effective alternative to fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in treating excessive perioperative bleeding. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the safety and efficacy of PCC administration as first-line treatment for coagulopathy after adult cardiac surgery.

METHODS

PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to the end of March 2018 to identify eligible articles. Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery and receiving perioperative PCC were compared with patients receiving FFP.

RESULTS

A total of 861 adult patients from four studies were retrieved. No randomized studies were identified. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) showed that the PCC cohort was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of RBC transfusion (OR, 2.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.45 to 3.40) and units of RBC received (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.90). No differences were observed between the groups for reexploration for bleeding (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.66 to 1.82), chest drain output at 24 hours (OR, 66.36; 95% CI, -82.40 to 216.11), hospital mortality (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.49), stroke (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.41 to 1.56), and occurrence of acute kidney injury (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.58 to 1.12). A trend toward increased risk of renal replacement therapy was observed in the PCC group (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.16 to 1.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with significant bleeding after cardiac surgery, PCC administration seems to be more effective than FFP in reducing perioperative blood transfusions. No additional risks of thromboembolic events or other adverse reactions were observed. Randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the safety of PCC in cardiac surgery definitively.

Vitamin C to Improve Organ Dysfunction in Cardiac Surgery Patients-Review and Pragmatic Approach

The pleiotropic biochemical and antioxidant functions of vitamin C have sparked recent interest in its application in intensive care. Vitamin C protects important organ systems (cardiovascular, neurologic and renal systems) during inflammation and oxidative stress. It also influences coagulation and inflammation; its application might prevent organ damage. The current evidence of vitamin C's effect on pathophysiological reactions during various acute stress events (such as sepsis, shock, trauma, burn and ischemia-reperfusion injury) questions whether the application of vitamin C might be especially beneficial for cardiac surgery patients who are routinely exposed to ischemia/reperfusion and subsequent inflammation, systematically affecting different organ systems. This review covers current knowledge about the role of vitamin C in cardiac surgery patients with focus on its influence on organ dysfunctions. The relationships between vitamin C and clinical health outcomes are reviewed with special emphasis on its application in cardiac surgery. Additionally, this review pragmatically discusses evidence on the administration of vitamin C in every day clinical practice, tackling the issues of safety, monitoring, dosage, and appropriate application strategy.

Impact of major bleeding on the risk of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Background

Patients with perioperative bleeding during cardiac surgery are susceptible to acute kidney injury (AKI) which is proposed to be associated with short-term and long-term risk of adverse events. The relationship between perioperative bleeding in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and AKI remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of perioperative bleeding on the risk of postoperative AKI in patient undergoing OPCAB.

Methods

Perioperative major bleeding was defined by the universal definition of perioperative bleeding (UDPB) class 3 to 4. The primary endpoint was postoperative AKI which was diagnosed using criteria of stage 1 of AKI proposed by Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN). The secondary endpoints included in-hospital mortality and the incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI). Baseline characteristics were compared between patients with and without major bleeding. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential predictive factors for AKI after OPCAB.

Results

A total of 4,030 ACS (acute coronary syndrome) patients who underwent OPCAB were included in this study. Major bleeding rate was 9.8% (n =394). AKI was found in 995 (24.7%) patients. Multivariable regression analysis showed that perioperative major bleeding conferred a significantly higher risk of AKI after OPCAB with an odds ratio of 1.67 (95% confidence interval 1.32-2.10, P<0.001). When a decrease in hemoglobin, transfusion and chest tube output were included in the same logistic model separately to replace major bleeding, transfusion was the most strongly risk factor associated with AKI after surgery (OR =2.08, 95% CI: 1.38-3.16, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Perioperative bleeding is associated with a higher risk of postoperative AKI in ACS patients who underwent OPCAB. Moreover, blood and blood products transfusion most correlated with AKI after surgery. Prevention of severe bleeding and reducing blood transfusion requirement may improve the outcomes of OPCAB.

Platelet Counts and Postoperative Stroke After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery

BACKGROUND

Declining platelet counts may reveal platelet activation and aggregation in a postoperative prothrombotic state. Therefore, we hypothesized that nadir platelet counts after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery are associated with stroke.

METHODS

We evaluated 6130 adult CABG surgery patients. Postoperative platelet counts were evaluated as continuous and categorical (mild versus moderate to severe) predictors of stroke. Extended Cox proportional hazard regression analysis with a time-varying covariate for daily minimum postoperative platelet count assessed the association of day-to-day variations in postoperative platelet count with time to stroke. Competing risks proportional hazard regression models examined associations between day-to-day variations in postoperative platelet counts with timing of stroke (early: 0-1 days; delayed: ≥2 days).

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range) postoperative nadir platelet counts were 123.0 (98.0-155.0) × 10/L. The incidences of postoperative stroke were 1.09%, 1.50%, and 3.02% for platelet counts >150 × 10/L, 100 to 150 × 10/L, and <100 × 10/L, respectively. The risk for stroke increased by 12% on a given postoperative day for every 30 × 10/L decrease in platelet counts (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.24; P= .0255). On a given day, patients with moderate to severe thrombocytopenia were almost twice as likely to develop stroke (adjusted HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.13-3.16; P= .0155) as patients with nadir platelet counts >150 × 10/L. Importantly, such thrombocytopenia, defined as a time-varying covariate, was significantly associated with delayed (≥2 days after surgery; adjusted HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.48-5.41; P= .0017) but not early postoperative stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest an independent association between moderate to severe postoperative thrombocytopenia and postoperative stroke, and timing of stroke after CABG surgery.

[Postoperative excessive blood loss after cardiac surgery can be predicted with International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis scoring system]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Prediction of postoperative excessive blood loss is useful for management of Intensive Care Unit after cardiac surgery. The aim of present study was to examine the effectiveness of International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis scoring system in patients with cardiac surgery.

METHOD

After obtaining approval from the institutional review board, the medical records of patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery using Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass between March 2010 and February 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis score was calculated in intensive care unit and patients were divided with overt disseminated intravascular coagulation group and non-overt disseminated intravascular coagulation group. To evaluate correlation with estimated blood loss, student t-test and correlation analyses were used.

RESULTS

Among 384 patients with cardiac surgery, 70 patients with overt disseminated intravascular coagulation group (n=20) or non-overt disseminated intravascular coagulation group (n=50) were enrolled. Mean disseminated intravascular coagulation scores at intensive care unit admission was 5.35±0.59 (overt disseminated intravascular coagulation group) and 2.66±1.29 (non-overt disseminated intravascular coagulation group) and overt disseminated intravascular coagulation was induced in 29% (20/70). Overt disseminated intravascular coagulation group had much more EBL for 24h (p=0.006) and maintained longer time of intubation time (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

In spite of limitation of retrospective design, management using International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis score in patients after cardiac surgery seems to be helpful for prediction of the post- cardio-pulmonary bypass excessive blood loss and prolonged tracheal intubation duration.