Korean J Anesthesiol.  2015 Jun;68(3):241-248. 10.4097/kjae.2015.68.3.241.

Predictive value of rotational thromboelastometry during cardiopulmonary bypass for thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia after weaning of cardiopulmonary bypass

• Ji SM
• Kim SH
• Nam JS
• Yun HJ
• Choi JH
• Lee EH
• Choi IC

• KMID: 2148688
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2015.68.3.241

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The early detection of coagulopathy helps guide decisions regarding optimal transfusion management during cardiac surgery. This study aimed to determine whether rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) analysis during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) could predict thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia after CPB.
METHODS
We analyzed 138 cardiac surgical patients for whom ROTEM tests and conventional laboratory tests were performed simultaneously both during and after CPB. An extrinsically activated ROTEM test (EXTEM), a fibrin-specific ROTEM test (FIBTEM) and PLTEM calculated by subtracting FIBTEM from EXTEM were evaluated. Correlations between clot amplitude at 10 min (A10), maximal clot firmness, platelet count, and fibrinogen concentrations at each time point were calculated. A receiver operating characteristic analysis with area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the thresholds of EXTEM, PLTEM and FIBTEM parameters during CPB and for predicting thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia after weaning of CPB.
RESULTS
The A10 on EXTEM, PLTEM, and FIBTEM during CPB showed a good correlation with platelet counts (r = 0.622 on EXTEM and r = 0.637 on PLTEM; P < 0.0001 for each value) and fibrinogen levels (r = 0.780; P < 0.0001) after CPB. A10 on a FIBTEM threshold of 8 mm during the CPB predicted a fibrinogen concentration < 150 mg/dl (AUC = 0.853) after CPB. Additionally, the threshold level of A10 on EXTEM during CPB for predicting platelet counts < 100,000 /microl after CPB was 42 mm (AUC = 0.768).
CONCLUSIONS
EXTEM, PLTEM, and FIBTEM parameters during CPB may be useful for predicting thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia after weaning of CPB.

Keyword

Cardiac surgery; Cardiopulmonary bypass; Coagulopathy; Thromboelastometry

MeSH Terms

Cardiopulmonary Bypass*
Fibrinogen
Humans
Platelet Count
ROC Curve
Thoracic Surgery
Thrombelastography*
Thrombocytopenia*
Weaning*
Fibrinogen