Intraoperative management of blood loss during craniosynostosis surgery

Preoperative Frontal and Parietal Bone Thickness Assessment to Predict Blood Loss and Transfusion During Extended Suturectomy for Isolated Sagittal Craniosynostosis

OBJECTIVE

To predict the morbidity of sagittal suturectomy using preoperative computer tomographic measurement of frontal and parietal bone thickness in osteotomy sites.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

SETTING

Tertiary children's hospital.

PATIENTS

Fifty infants with nonsyndromic, isolated sagittal craniosynostosis who underwent extended sagittal suturectomy from 2015-2022.

METHODS

Mean thickness of the frontal and parietal bone in regions of osteotomies were determined for each patient from preoperative CT images obtained within 30 days prior to suturectomy. The relationship between bone thickness (mm) and estimated blood loss (mL) was evaluated using Spearman's correlation and a multivariable model that adjusted for patient weight and surgery duration. The association between bone thickness and perioperative blood transfusion was evaluated using a multivariable logistic model controlling for patient weight and surgery duration.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Estimated blood loss, perioperative blood transfusion.

RESULTS

Frontal and parietal bone thickness in the region of osteotomies were positively correlated with estimated blood loss (p < 0.01). After adjusting for patient weight and duration of operation, both parietal and frontal bone thickness were associated with intraoperative blood loss (R2 = 0.292, p = 0.002 and R2 = 0.216, p = 0.026). Thicker frontal and parietal bone in the line of osteotomies resulted in significantly higher odds of blood transfusion. Bone thickness in the line of parietal osteotomies was 76% accurate at identifying patients who would require blood transfusion (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Frontal and parietal bone thickness in the line of osteotomies is associated with blood loss and perioperative blood transfusion for sagittal suturectomy operations.

Tranexamic acid in Neurosurgery: a controversy indication-review

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is one of the measures indicated to reduce bleeding and the need for volume replacement. However, data on risks and benefits are controversial. This study analyzes the effectivity and risks of using tranexamic acid in neurosurgery. We selected articles, published from 1976 to 2019, on the PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, and The Cochrane Database using the descriptors: "tranexamic acid," "neurosurgery," "traumatic brain injury," "subdural hemorrhage," "brain aneurysm," and "subarachnoid hemorrhage." TXA can reduce blood loss and the need for blood transfusion in trauma and spinal surgery. Despite the benefits of TXA, moderate-to-high doses are potentially associated with neurological complications (seizures, transient ischemic attack, delirium) in adults and children. In a ruptured intracranial aneurysm, the use of TXA can considerably reduce the risk of rebleeding, but there is weak evidence regarding its influence on mortality reduction. The TXA use in brain surgery does not present benefit. However, this conclusion is limited because there are few studies. TXA in neurosurgeries is a promising method for the maintenance of hemostasis in affected patients, mainly in traumatic brain injury and spinal surgery; nevertheless, there is lack of evidence in brain and vascular surgeries. Many questions remain unanswered, such as how to determine the dosage that triggers the onset of associated complications, or how to adjust the dose for chronic kidney disease patients.

A review of the management of single-suture craniosynostosis, past, present, and future

BACKGROUND

Craniosynostosis is a condition in which 2 or more of the skull bones fuse prematurely. The spectrum of the disorder most commonly involves the closure of a single suture in the skull, but it can also involve syndromic diagnoses in which multiple skull bones and/or bones outside of the cranium are affected. Craniosynostosis can result in cosmetic deformity as well as potential limitations in brain growth and development, and the neurocognitive impact of the condition is just starting to be studied more thoroughly. Our knowledge regarding the genetics of this condition has also evolved substantially. In this review, the authors explore the medical and surgical advancements in understanding and treating this condition over the past century, with a focus on how the diagnosis and treatment have evolved.

METHODS

In this review article, the authors, who are the leaders of a craniofacial team at a major academic pediatric hospital, focus on single-suture craniosynostosis (SSC) affecting the 6 major cranial sutures and discuss the evolution of the treatment of SSC from its early history in modern medicine through the current state of the art and future trends. This discussion is based on the authors' broad experience and a comprehensive review of the literature.

SUMMARY

The management of SSC has evolved substantially over the past 100 years. There have been major advances in technology and medical knowledge that have allowed for safer treatment of this condition through the use of newer techniques and technologies in the fields of surgery, anesthesia, and critical care. The use of less invasive surgical techniques along with other innovations has led to improved outcomes in SSC patients. The future of SSC treatment will likely be guided by elucidation of the causes of neurocognitive delay in these children and assessment of how the timing and type of surgery can mitigate adverse outcomes.

Ulnar Artery Thrombosis Following Tranexamic Acid Administration for Craniosynostosis Repair

Pediatric craniosynostosis repair with cranial vault reconstructive surgery can be associated with significant blood loss. Tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic agent, has been shown to decrease blood loss and transfusion volume in craniofacial surgery. Nonetheless data regarding the safety of TXA remains limited. The authors describe a case of ulnar artery thrombosis following ulnar arterial line placement in a patient who received TXA for cranial vault reconstructive surgery.

Craniosynostosis Surgery and the Impact of Tranexamic Acid Dosing

Consensus does not exist regarding the best dosage regimen for using tranexamic acid (TXA) for patients undergoing open calvarial vault remodeling in craniosynostosis surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 2 dosing protocols, as well as the cost of using TXA. Previously, the institutional protocol was to give patients undergoing open calvarial vault remodeling a loading infusion of TXA (10 mg/kg) at the start of their procedure, after which intravenous TXA (5 mg/kg/h) was given throughout surgery and for 24 hours postoperatively. In July 2015, the protocol changed to a reduced postoperative infusion time of 4 hours. A retrospective review was conducted of records of 30 patients who had surgery before the protocol change (24-hour group) and 23 patients whose surgery occurred after the protocol change (4-hour group). The following data were collected: blood volume transfused, hemoglobin levels, estimated blood loss, and intensive care days; and costs of TXA and blood transfusion. Results showed a 4-hour infusion was as effective as a 24-hour infusion for reducing blood loss in patients undergoing craniosynostosis. Transfusion requirements, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and estimated blood loss were not significantly different for the groups. The cost of TXA and transfusion in the 4-hour group was significantly less (P < 0.001) than in the 24-hour group. No significant difference in cost existed for patients who received blood transfusion alone versus patients who received the 4-hour TXA infusion.

Open Craniosynostosis Surgery: Effect of Early Intraoperative Blood Transfusion on Postoperative Course

Correction of craniosynostosis can result in blood loss when the patient already has physiologic anemia. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients benefit from early blood transfusion and whether the timing of blood transfusion affects metabolic disturbances and the postoperative course. In this retrospective review, 71 patients who underwent open calvarial vault remodeling for correction of craniosynostosis were separated into 2 groups according to whether they received blood transfusions early (within the first 30 minutes of surgery) or later (after the first 30 minutes of surgery). Patients were further separated into nonsyndromic and syndromic cohorts. Tracked variables included hemoglobin, hematocrit, arterial blood gas values, lactate level, length of stay, estimated blood loss, and amount of blood transfused in the operating room, amount transfused postoperatively, and total amount transfused.Among all patients, the early transfusion group had a higher hemoglobin nadir overall and received less postoperative blood. Within the nonsyndromic cohort, the early transfusion group had a higher estimated blood loss and received more transfused blood. In the syndromic cohort, the early transfusion group had a hemoglobin nadir that was significantly higher than in the late transfusion group and a lower estimated blood loss, shorter pediatric intensive care unit stay, and less postoperative blood transfused. Syndromic patients also received significantly more blood overall. For syndromic patients undergoing open calvarial vault remodeling, transfusion within the first 30 minutes of surgery should be considered.

Prophylactic versus reactive transfusion of thawed plasma in patients undergoing surgical repair of craniosynostosis: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Surgical repair of craniosynostosis in young children is associated with copious bleeding and often coagulopathy. Typically, a reactive transfusion strategy is used to treat coagulopathy whereby fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is given only after clinical manifestation of clotting abnormality. This prospective, randomized clinical trial was designed to test the hypothesis that prophylactic FFP during craniofacial surgery reduces blood loss and blood transfusion requirements compared to a reactive FFP transfusion strategy.

METHODS

Eighty-one patients less than 2 years of age requiring primary repair of craniosynostosis were randomized to receive FFP using either a prophylactic or reactive strategy. Laboratory values were measured at four standardized time points. The volume of blood products transfused, length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), hospital length of stay, and number of donor exposures were recorded for each patient.

RESULTS

The prophylactic FFP group received a significantly greater average volume of FFP compared to the reactive group (29.7 ml·kg(-1) vs 16.1 ml·kg(-1) ; P < 0.001), which was associated with improvement in coagulation values at multiple time points. However, there was no difference in blood transfusion requirements or blood loss between the two groups. The two transfusion strategies resulted in similar median donor exposures. There was no difference in PICU or hospital length of stay.

CONCLUSION

A reactive FFP transfusion strategy required less plasma transfusion and was associated with similar rates of blood loss and PRBC transfusion as prophylactic FFP despite improvement in coagulation values in the prophylactic FFP group.

Bleeding management for pediatric craniotomies and craniofacial surgery

Pediatric patients when undergoing craniotomies and craniofacial surgery may potentially have significant blood loss. The amount and extent will be dictated by the nature of the surgical procedure, the proximity to major blood vessels, and the age, and weight of the patient. The goals should be to maintain hemodynamic stability and oxygen carrying capacity and to prevent and treat hyperfibrinolysis and dilutional coagulopathy. Over transfusion and transfusion-related side effects should be minimized. This article will highlight the pertinent considerations for managing massive blood loss in pediatric patients undergoing craniotomies and craniofacial surgery. North American and European guidelines for intraoperative administration of fluid and blood products will be discussed.

The efficacy of antifibrinolytic drugs in children undergoing noncardiac surgery: a systematic review of the literature

Children undergoing major surgery are frequently exposed to a high risk of blood loss often requiring transfusion. Although the risks associated with blood product transfusion have considerably decreased over the last decade, transfusion is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Thus, rigorous efforts should be made to decrease surgical bleeding and the need for blood product transfusion. Antifibrinolytic drugs have been shown to be effective when used in both adult and pediatric surgical patients. While there are data in adults to support safety, data remain limited for pediatric patients. Since the restriction of aprotinin use in 2008, the most commonly used antifibrinolytic drugs have been the lysine analogs, tranexamic acid (TXA), and ε-aminocaproic acid, which inhibit the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin and decrease the degree of fibrinolysis. We performed a systematic review of the literature pertaining to the efficacy of antifibrinolytic drugs in children undergoing noncardiac surgery. During spine surgery, both TXA and ε-aminocaproic acid decrease blood loss and transfusion requirements; however, this information comes from small, mainly retrospective trials. Two prospective, randomized, controlled trials have tested the efficacy of TXA in children undergoing craniofacial surgery and have reported that TXA decreases transfusion requirements. Two pharmacokinetic trials were also recently published and are summarized in this review. No data have been published regarding the efficacy of TXA administration in the pediatric trauma population. Further data are still needed in this field of study, and we discuss some perspectives for future research.

Factors influencing blood loss and postoperative morbidity in children undergoing craniosynostosis surgery: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Craniosynostosis is a condition resulting from the premature fusion of cranial sutures. Corrective surgery is often associated with a large amount of blood loss, with transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP). The aims of this study were to determine the variables associated with increased blood loss and postoperative complications.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed of 42 pediatric patients who underwent craniosynostosis surgery. We analyzed the following: demographic parameters, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, RBC, FFP and fluid transfusion, urine output, and hemodynamic parameters. In addition, we recorded the postoperative length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital, postoperative blood loss and early complications.

RESULTS

The mean age, weight and surgical duration were 9.2 ± 3.2 months, 9.3 ± 2.0 kg and 255.8 ± 46.7 min, respectively. Intraoperative blood loss was 61.2 ± 15.3 ml/kg and RBC, FFP and fluid transfusion were 27.3 ± 7.1 ml/kg, 16.5 ± 4.7 ml/kg and 21.7 ± 4.6 ml/kg/h, respectively. Greater intraoperative blood loss was associated with longer surgical duration (p = 0.001, correlation coefficient = 0.495, R2 = 0.245) and lower patient weight (p < 0.001, correlation coefficient = -0.557, R2 = 0.311). Longer hospital stay was associated with greater intraoperative blood loss (p < 0.001, correlation coefficient = 0.754, R2 = 0.568) and greater intraoperative RBC transfusion (p < 0.001, correlation coefficient = 0.795, R2 = 0.632).

CONCLUSION

Severe blood loss occurred in all children who underwent craniosynostotic corrections. Furthermore, the duration of surgery, patient weight and certain surgical procedures correlated with greater blood loss. Careful hemodynamic monitoring and evaluation of a patient's hematocrit value and volume status together may be helpful in maintaining the balance between insufficient and excessive blood product transfusion.