Preoperative predictors of blood component transfusion in living donor liver transplantation

Days alive and out of hospital after liver transplant: comparing a patient-centered outcome between recipients of grafts from donation after circulatory and brain deaths

We retrospectively compared outcomes between recipients of donation after circulatory death (DCD) and donation after brain death (DBD) liver allografts using days alive and out of hospital (DAOH), a composite outcome of mortality, morbidity, and burden of care from patient perspective. The initial length of stay and duration of any subsequent readmission for the first year after liver transplantation were recorded. Donor category and perioperative and intraoperative characteristics pertinent to liver transplantation were included. The primary outcome was DAOH₃₆₅. Secondary outcomes included early allograft dysfunction and hepatic arterial and biliary complications. Although the incidence of both early allograft dysfunction (P < .001) and ischemic cholangiopathy (P < .001) was significantly greater in the recipients of DCD, there were no significant differences in the length of stay and DAOH₃₆₅. The median DAOH₃₆₅ was 355 days for recipients of DBD allografts and 353 days for recipients of DCD allografts (P = .34). Increased transfusion burden, longer cold ischemic time, and non-White recipients were associated with decreased DAOH. There were no significant differences in graft failure (P = .67), retransplantation (P = .67), or 1-year mortality (P = .96) between the 2 groups. DAOH is a practical and attainable measure of outcome after liver transplantation. This metric should be considered for quality measurement and reporting in liver transplantation.

Safety assessment of RhD-positive red cell transfusion in RhD-negative liver-transplant recipients: Single-centre report from India

Background & objectives:

The number of blood components required during a liver-transplant surgery is significant. It is challenging for blood transfusion services to provide the required RhD-negative red blood cells (RBCs) for recipients during the peri-operative period. This retrospective study presents safety data of transfusing RhD-positive RBCs in RhD-negative living donor liver-transplant (LDLT) recipients during the peri-operative period with six-month follow up for risk of developing alloantibodies.

Methods:

All RhD-negative patients who underwent LDLT and were transfused ABO-compatible but RhD-positive RBC units between January 2012 and May 2018 were included in the study. Twenty one RhD-negative patients who received a total of 167 RhD-positive RBCs peri-operatively were chosen for alloantibody screening. All the patients were started on triple immunosuppression drugs as per the standard hospital protocol. Blood grouping, cross-match and antibody screening were done by column agglutination technique.

Results:

Post-transplant antibody screen (weekly for 12 wk) was negative, and none of the patients developed anti-D alloantibodies till their last follow up (mean 21 months).

Interpretation & conclusions:

Our observations suggest that it may be safe to use RhD-positive RBCs peri-operatively in RhD-negative LDLT recipients with low risk of alloimmunization.

Perioperative blood transfusion decreases long-term survival in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

The impact of perioperative blood transfusion on short- and long-term outcomes in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (PLDLT) must still be ascertained, mainly among young children. Clinical and surgical postoperative complications related to perioperative blood transfusion are well described up to three months after adult liver transplantation.

AIM

To determine whether transfusion is associated with early and late postoperative complications and mortality in small patients undergoing PLDLT.

METHODS

We evaluated the effects of perioperative transfusion on postoperative complications in recipients up to 20 kg of body weight, submitted to PLDLT. A total of 240 patients were retrospectively allocated into two groups according to postoperative complications: Minor complications (n = 109) and major complications (n = 131). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the volume of perioperative packed red blood cells (RBC) transfusion as the only independent risk factor for major postoperative complications. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to identify the optimal volume of the perioperative RBC transfusion related to the presence of major postoperative complications, defining a cutoff point of 27.5 mL/kg. Subsequently, patients were reallocated to a low-volume transfusion group (LTr; n = 103, RBC ≤ 27.5 mL/kg) and a high-volume transfusion group (HTr; n = 137, RBC > 27.5 mL/kg) so that the outcome could be analyzed.

RESULTS

High-volume transfusion was associated with an increased number of major complications and mortality during hospitalization up to a 10-year follow-up period. During a short-term period, the HTr showed an increase in major infectious, cardiovascular, respiratory, and bleeding complications, with a decrease in rejection complications compared to the LTr. Over a long-term period, the HTr showed an increase in major infectious, cardiovascular, respiratory, and minor neoplastic complications, with a decrease in rejection complications. Additionally, Cox hazard regression found that high-volume RBC transfusion increased the mortality risk by 3.031-fold compared to low-volume transfusion. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the studied groups were compared using log-rank tests and the analysis showed significantly decreased graft survival, but with no impact in patient survival related to major complications. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in both graft and patient survival, with high-volume RBC transfusion.

CONCLUSION

Transfusion of RBC volume higher than 27.5 mL/kg during the perioperative period is associated with a significant increase in short- and long-term postoperative morbidity and mortality after PLDLT.

Determinants of blood transfusion for elective surgical procedures at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2017

BACKGROUND

Till date 80% of the world's population has access to only 20% of the world's safe blood that is properly collected and tested. Paradoxically, despite a severely inadequate supply, blood is often transfused unnecessarily and it will expose patients to complications. Despite lots of publication and investigation on the efficiency of blood usage, there is no clear demarcation which patients really need blood transfusion.

OBJECTIVES

To determine factors associated with blood transfusion in elective surgical procedures in Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2017 G.C.

METHODS

Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from February 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 G.C at Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital. Data was collected by using convenient sampling technique and structured checklist. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify significant predictors of transfusion based on p-value less than 0.05 with 95% confidence level.

RESULTS

Among all 387 elective surgical patients 88 (22.7%) of patients were transfused with prepared blood. The independent predictors of perioperative blood transfusion were neurosurgery (craniotomy) (p = 0.017), hemoglobin level < 11.0 g/dl (p < 0.001) and intraoperative blood loss ≥ 15% (P < 0 0.001).

CONCLUSION

neurosurgery, hemoglobin <11.0 g/dl and intraoperative blood loss ≥15% were the major determinants of blood transfusion.

Quality Improvement in Transfusion Practice of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Reduces Blood Utilization, Length of Hospital Stay, and Cost

OBJECTIVES

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) can require substantial usage of blood products. Higher rates of transfusion have been associated with increased length of hospital stay, higher rates of infection, graft failure, and mortality. This study was a retrospective analysis to assess the impact of quality improvement interventions in OLT.

METHODS

Data collection included demographics, preoperative and intraoperative data, blood utilization, and cost data. Statistical analysis was performed using R software.

RESULTS

Total blood product utilization was reduced by approximately 50%. Statistically significant decreases were noted in blood product usage in the intraoperative and first 48-hour postoperative utilization, the number of OLTs using fewer than five RBC units, length of hospital stay, and cost.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed successful implementation of quality improvement team interventions to reduce blood utilization during OLT. Reduced transfusion significantly correlated with decreased length of hospital stay and cost.

Established and potential predictors of blood loss during lung transplant surgery

Lung transplantation is an established therapeutic procedure for end stage lung diseases. Its success may be impaired by perioperative complications. Intraoperative blood loss and the resulting blood transfusion are among the most common complications. The various factors contributing to increased blood loss during lung transplantation are only scarcely investigated and not yet completely understood. This is in sharp contrast to other surgical fields, as in orthopedic surgery, liver transplantation and cardiac surgery the contributors to blood loss are well identified. This narrative review article aims to highlight the acknowledged factors influencing blood loss in lung transplantation (such as double vs. single lung transplant) and to discuss potential factors that may be of interest for further research or helpful to develop strategies targeting risk factors in order to minimize blood loss during lung transplantation and finally improve patient outcome.

Blood Product Transfusion in Liver Transplantation and its Impact on Short-term Survival

BACKGROUND

Estimation of the amount of blood products required during liver transplantation can help provision of adequate blood supply, minimize transfusion-associated complications, and plan for preventive measures in high risk patients.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate independent predictors of peri-operative blood product transfusion and its impact on short-term survival of liver transplant recipients.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, old charts of patients who underwent liver transplantation between March 2003 and March 2013 at Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, were reviewed. The mean amount of blood product utilized during surgery and hospital stay and the related factors, including demographic characteristics, pre-transplant laboratory data, pre-transplant clinical data, operation data, and post-transplantation data were recorded.

RESULTS

We studied 1198 patients who underwent liver transplantation. The mean±SD amounts of red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelet transfusion during surgery and hospital stay were 2.67±3.5, 2.06±3.8, and 1.6±3.8 units, respectively. The mortality rate was significantly higher in patients who received high amounts of blood products (p<0.001). The mean amount of blood products' utilized during operation was significantly (p<0.001) decreased from 2003 to 2013.The mean amount of packed cell usage during operation and hospital stay was significantly (p<0.001) correlated with age, technique of surgery, serum albumin level, cirrhosis, blood urea nitrogen, length of operation, and prothrombin time.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative factors may predict blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing liver transplantation. Therefore, evaluation of patients before operation should be considered to provide adequate blood supply and minimize transfusion-associated complications. Understanding pre-operative factors associated with rate of transfusion may help us to best utilize the limited available blood resources.

Coagulation Management During Liver Transplantation: Use of Fibrinogen Concentrate, Recombinant Activated Factor VII, Prothrombin Complex Concentrate, and Antifibrinolytics

Coagulation management, and transfusion practice in liver transplantation (LT) have been evolving in the recent years due to better understanding of coagulation abnormalities in end-stage liver disease, and clinical management of LT patients. Avoidance of allogeneic blood components is feasible in some patients, but multi-modal coagulation therapies may be necessary in others who develop complex coagulopathy due to hemorrhage, hemodilution, hypothermia, and acid-base disturbances. Transfusions of plasma and cryoprecipitate remain to be the mainstay therapy for procoagulant factor replacement during LT. Clinical efficacy and safety of these products are limited by logistic issues (eg, thawing), and mostly noninfectious complications. Considering potential alternatives to conventional transfusion is thus important to improve hemostatic resuscitation in complex LT cases. The present review is mainly focused on procoagulant properties of plasma and platelet transfusion, and currently available plasma-derived and recombinant factor concentrates, and antifibrinolytic agents in LT patients. The role of viscoelastic coagulation tests to guide specific component therapies will be also discussed.

Red cell alloimmunization & role of advanced immunohaematological support in liver transplantation

Background & objectives:

Transfusion support forms an integral part of liver transplantation programme. Advanced immunohaematology services are required to deal with complex serological problems that can complicate transfusion therapy in these patients. Here, we report on red cell alloimmunization and presence of alloimmunization in donors and patients undergoing liver transplantation in a tertiary care hospital in north India.

Methods:

Records of 1433 liver transplants performed from January 2009 to March 2015 were retrieved and reviewed. Antibody screening was performed both for liver donors, and recipients and antibody identification was performed for the screen-positive patients.

Results:

Of the 1433 liver recipients, 32 (2.3%) developed antibodies. Seventeen patients had one or more alloantibodies, five had autoantibodies with an underlying alloantibody and 10 had only autoantibodies in their plasma. The overall alloimmunization rate was 1.5 per cent with 25 alloantibodies identified in 22 patients. Anti-E was the most common specificity identified.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The presence of alloantibodies can complicate transfusion therapy in patients undergoing liver transplantation, who are already at a high risk of being heavily transfused owing to the nature of surgery and the haemostatic dysfunction from chronic liver disease. Therefore, screening for irregular red cell alloantibodies combined with a rational blood transfusion policy may be essential for these patients.

Retrospective analysis of perioperative transfusion requirements in living donor renal transplantation

BACKGROUND

Extensive bleeding in solid organ transplantation is a major challenge faced by transplant surgeons. Our aim was to audit the peri-operative transfusion requirements in our patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of living donor renal transplant surgeries performed from 1st May 2014 to 31st December 2014 was done. The blood/blood component usage during the peri-operative period was obtained. Univariate analysis was performed and the significant factors identified were further analyzed through multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 510 patients (398 males: 78%, and 112 females: 22%) ranging from 18 to 77 years in age were included in the study. Of these, 269 (52.7%) patients were not transfused, while 241 (47.3%) patients received a total of 845 units of blood/blood components. The mean pre-operative hemoglobin in the transfused group was 8.7g/dl while in the non-transfused group it was 10.3g/dl. Leukoreduced packed red blood cell (PRBC) was the major blood component transfused during the peri-operative period. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that pre-operative hemoglobin was a major predictor of intra-operative PRBC transfusion (p = <0.001). Average post-operative length of stay (PLOS) was 10 ± 6 days. There was no significant difference in the PLOS between the transfused and non-transfused groups of patients; however, a statistical significant increase in utilization for both PRBC (p = 0.044) and fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.002) was observed with increased PLOS.

CONCLUSION

Nearly 47.3% of patients undergoing living donor renal transplant received transfusion. PRBC was the most common product transfused and pre-operative hemoglobin was identified as strong predictor of blood consumption.

Reduced Transfusion During OLT by POC Coagulation Management and TEG Functional Fibrinogen: A Retrospective Observational Study

Patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation are at high risk of bleeding complications. Several Authors have shown that thromboelastography (TEG)-based coagulation management and the administration of fibrinogen concentrate reduce the need for blood transfusion.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort observational study (Modena Polyclinic, Italy) on 386 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation. We assessed the impact on resource consumption and patient survival after the introduction of a new TEG-based transfusion algorithm, requiring also the introduction of the fibrinogen functional thromboelastography test and a maximum amplitude of functional fibrinogen thromboelastography transfusion cutoff (7 mm) to direct in administering fibrinogen (2012-2014, n = 118) compared with a purely TEG-based algorithm previously used (2005-2011, n = 268).

RESULTS

After 2012, there was a significant decrease in the use of homologous blood (1502 ± 1376 vs 794 ± 717 mL, P < 0.001), fresh frozen plasma (537 ± 798 vs 98 ± 375 mL, P < 0.001), and platelets (158 ± 280 vs 75 ± 148 mL, P < 0.005), whereas the use of fibrinogen increased (0.1 ± 0.5 vs 1.4 ± 1.8 g, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in 30-day and 6-month survival between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of a new coagulation management method featuring the addition of the fibrinogen functional thromboelastography test to the TEG test according to an algorithm which provides for the administration of fibrinogen has helped in reducing the need for transfusion in patients undergoing liver transplantation with no impact on their survival.

Coagulation management with factor concentrates in liver transplantation: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Allogeneic blood products transfusion during liver transplantation (LT) can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Data on thromboelastometry (ROTEM)-guided coagulation management with coagulation factor concentrates (CFCs)-fibrinogen concentrate and/or prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC)-are sparse. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the safety events observed with this approach in our clinic.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

LT patients from January 2009 to December 2010 (n = 266) were identified by chart review. A ROTEM-based algorithm with CFC guided the hemostatic therapy. Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate thrombosis in the hepatic artery, portal vein, and hepatic veins. Stroke, myocardial ischemia, pulmonary embolism, and transfusion variables were recorded. Patients receiving CFC were included in the CFC group (n = 156); those not receiving CFC were included in the non-CFC group (n = 110). Safety events were compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

Allogeneic transfusion(s) in the 266 patients was low, with medians of 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 0-5), 0 (IQR 0-0), and 0 (IQR 0-1) units for red blood cells (RBCs), fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), and platelets (PLTs), respectively. Ninety-seven of 266 LTs (36.5%) were performed without RBCs transfusion, 227 (85.3%) without FFP, and 190 (71.4%) without PLTs. There were no significant differences in thrombotic, thromboembolic, and ischemic adverse events occurrence between the CFC group and the non-CFC group (11/156 patients vs. 5/110; p = 0.31).

CONCLUSION

In LT, ROTEM-guided treatment with fibrinogen concentrate and/or PCC did not appear to increase the occurrence of thrombosis and ischemic events compared to patients who did not receive these concentrates.