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Using Thromboelastography to Predict Blood Loss After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Authors Liu Y, Zhang WL, Bu JQ, Gu JJ, Sun YQ, Cui HZ, Wang DW, Chen ZY

Received 12 November 2020

Accepted for publication 26 February 2021

Published 19 March 2021 Volume 2021:14 Pages 949—956

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S291864

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2

Editor who approved publication: Dr Scott Fraser



Yu Liu,1 Wen-Li Zhang,1 Ji-Qiang Bu,1 Jian-Jun Gu,1 Yong-Quan Sun,1 Hong-Zhan Cui,1 Da-Wei Wang,2 Zi-Ying Chen1

1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shi Jiazhuang, 050000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Zi-Ying Chen
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 215 of Heping West Road, XinHua District, Shijiazhuang, 050000, People’s Republic of China
Tel +86 15803210520
Fax +86 311 6600 2995
Email [email protected]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the value of thromboelastography (TEG) in predicting blood loss, and its relationship with blood transfusion demand, during the perioperative period in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG).
Methods: The data of 398 patients undergoing OPCABG were retrospectively analyzed. Blood was drawn before anesthesia induction (T1) and at 10 minutes after heparin neutralization (T2) for further TEG detection. The patients were divided into two groups based on the results at T2: a TEG normal group and a TEG abnormal group. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the related factors contributing to the significant increase in perioperative blood loss (more than 20% of the estimated blood volume).
Results: There were 277 (69.6%) patients in the TEG normal group and 121 (30.4%) in the TEG abnormal group. Compared with the TEG normal group, the volume of blood loss, red blood cell count, and volume of plasma transfusion in the TEG abnormal group significantly increased within 24 hours after surgery. The results of the logistic regression analysis identified the use of clopidogrel, platelet count at T2, fibrinogen level at T2, and abnormality in TEG value as independent predictors for the significant increase in perioperative blood loss (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The abnormality in TEG value after heparin neutralization is correlated with massive hemorrhage and blood transfusion during the perioperative period in OPCABG. TEG detection can assist in clinical treatment and reduce the volume of blood lost in a hemorrhage and the volume of blood required in a transfusion during OPCABG.

Keywords: thromboelastography, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, perioperative period, blood loss, blood transfusion

Introduction

In patients who need emergency off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) may significantly increase the risk of perioperative bleeding.1,2 Hemorrhage is therefore one of the main complications seriously affecting the clinical prognosis of patients undergoing OPCABG.3 However, the discontinuation of DAPT before the operation can increase the incidence of thromboembolism events, which presents a dilemma for both clinicians and patients. The traditional clinical response is to use freshly frozen plasma or platelets, but this approach is based only on the experience of traditional coagulation tests, which include prothrombin time (PT) and have a long testing period—they have limited predictive value in evaluating the function of coagulation and the volume of blood loss.4 Thus, more timely and effective detection methods are needed to provide a basis for clinical treatment.

In recent years, thromboelastography (TEG) has gained increasing recognition as a method of evaluating the function of blood coagulation.5 As a more accurate detection and evaluation method, TEG has a shorter detection duration than traditional laboratory tests5 and can provide continuous and quantitative information concerning the process from the formation of blood clots to the appearance of fibrinolysis.6–9

The present retrospective study aims to explore the correlation between abnormal TEG parameters and the increase in the incidence of perioperative hemorrhage in patients undergoing OPCABG. It also aims to identify the relationship between the changes in TEG parameters and the demand for blood transfusion in OPCABG.

Methods

Subjects

The data of 398 patients who underwent OPCABG procedures in our department between April 2016 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had indications for surgery but had no contraindications. Patients without TEG detection, patients transferred to emergency external circulation, and patients complicated with other operations were excluded.

For all patients, blood drawn from the central venous catheter before anesthesia induction (T1) and 10 minutes after heparin neutralization (T2) was used for TEG detection. To confirm sufficient heparin neutralization, activated clotting time (ACT) was measured with a blood sample drawn at T2. The recorded TEG parameters included the R value, K value, α angle, and maximum amplitude. The patients were divided into two groups based on the detection results of TEG at T2: a TEG normal group and a TEG abnormal group. The TEG abnormal group included patients with at least one abnormal TEG parameter.

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hebei Medical University (2020-R270), and all patients provided signed informed consent.

Methods

Aspirin was given prior to the operation and again six hours after the operation if the bleeding was in the normal range. Clopidogrel was administered one day before surgery. General anesthesia was performed for all patients, and 1.5 mg/kg of heparin was given before the left internal mammary artery was severed. The grafting was initiated when the detected ACT was ≥300 seconds. Protamine sulfate (0.8 mg/1 mg of heparin) was given for neutralization with the completion of the grafting. During the operation, the hematocrit was maintained above 25% by the transfusion of red blood cells and the use of a blood recovery machine. In cases of continuous bleeding after sufficient surgical hemostasis and protamine neutralization (as confirmed by ACT), blood transfusion or cold precipitation was given under the joint agreement of the anesthesiologist and surgeon. The first operation was through the median sternal incision, while the second was along the original incision.

After surgery, the patients were sent back to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the cardiac surgery department and treated according to standardized postoperative treatment procedures. In cases of a hemorrhage of more than 200 mL/h for up to two hours, blood plasma or platelets were infused. Where postoperative bleeding was more than 200 mL/h for six hours or more than 400 mL in the first hour, a reoperation was performed. The final decision about a blood transfusion or reoperation was jointly made by the clinicians in the ICU and surgeons.

In this study, the patients’ BMIs were 26.14 ± 3.25 (TEG normal group) and 28.98 ± 2.84 (TEG normal group). Considering that the blood volume in the human body is about 7–8% of body weight, 20% of the estimated blood volume was calculated to be 1000 mL.

Statistical Analysis

SPSS 24.0 (IBM Corporation, Chicago, America) software was used for statistical analysis. Measurement data were expressed as , while enumeration data were expressed as percentages. For comparisons between groups of measurement data, a Student’s t-test was used for normally distributed data and the Mann–Whitney U-test for non-normally distributed data. For comparisons between groups of enumeration data, normal distribution was tested using a χ2 test, and non-normal distribution was tested using the Kruskal–Wallis test. In the test for confounding factors, the single-factor logistic regression equation was used to analyze the influence of gender, diabetes mellitus, other baseline data, and perioperative risk factors on the incidence of serious hemorrhage events in patients undergoing OPCABG. All significant variables in the univariate analysis, as well as those previously considered to be predictors for the risk of hemorrhage, were included in the multivariate logistic regression equation in order to test the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. All statistical analyses were two-tailed tests, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Clinical Characteristics and Preoperative Baseline Data of Patients

An evaluation of the clinical characteristics and preoperative baseline data of the 398 patients is given in Table 1. The percentage of patients who received clopidogrel within three days before the operation was 53.43% (TEG normal group) and 61.16% (TEG abnormal group) (P = 0.093), and the average number of coronary grafts was 3.31 ± 0.76 (TEG normal group) and 3.58 ± 0.82 (TEG abnormal group) (P = 0.429). There were no statistical differences in baseline data between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Table 1 Clinical Characteristics and Preoperative Baseline Data of Patients Between These Two Groups

Intraoperative Laboratory Tests and TEG Results in OPCABG

The changes in laboratory tests and TEG parameters are shown in Table 2. Hemoglobin levels, platelet counts, and fibrinogen levels significantly decreased at T2 from their baseline values, while PT and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) significantly increased. Although the mean values of fibrinogen levels at T2 were within the reference range, they were lower than those at T1, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Table 2 The Changes in Intraoperative Laboratory Tests and TEG Parameters in OPCABG

Comparison of Intraoperative Conditions

Whether TEG parameters were normal at T2, analysis of postoperative coagulation function and laboratory indicators, volume of perioperative blood loss, blood transfusion demand, and postoperative complications are shown in Tables 3 and 4. Blood transfusions were given to all patients according to their situation after sufficient heparin neutralization was confirmed by ACT.

Table 3 Intraoperative Condition, Laboratory Tests and TEG at T2

Table 4 Postoperative Blood Loss, Blood Transfusion and Complications Between the Two Groups

For patients in the TEG abnormal group, the volume of blood loss, red blood cell count, volume of plasma transfusion, and frequency of hemostasis during the second thoracotomy significantly increased within 24 hours post-operation, and the difference was statistically significant when compared with patients in the TEG normal group. There were no significant differences in the duration of tracheal intubation, postoperative myocardial infarction (according to the criteria of postoperative cardiac infarction in coronary artery bypass grafting), postoperative ventricular fibrillation, bedside dialysis, and in-hospital mortality between the two groups (see Table 4).

Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Correlated with Blood Loss and Blood Transfusion

After comparing the data of patients with obvious hemorrhage during the perioperative period and those without, single-factor logistic regression analysis was used to include all variables with P < 0.2 into the single-factor analysis. The statistical results of the prediction factors for significant hemorrhage during the perioperative period are shown in Table 5. Based on the results of the single-factor analysis and clinical conditions, the indexes of diabetes mellitus, continuous administration of clopidogrel three days before surgery, fibrinogen levels at T2, and abnormal TEG parameters were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results (see Table 6) demonstrate that the continuous administration of clopidogrel three days before surgery, fibrinogen levels at T2, and abnormal TEG parameters are independent risk factors for the significantly increased risk of perioperative hemorrhage.

Table 5 Logistic Regression Analysis of the Single Factor Correlated to Blood Loss and Blood Transfusion

Table 6 Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Correlated to Blood Loss and Blood Transfusion

Discussion

It takes a long time to perform traditional laboratory tests, and they reflect the state of blood coagulation in a relatively one-sided way. Clinical blood-transfusion therapy based on this method, therefore, cannot be carried out in a timely manner, resulting in insufficient blood transfusions that lead to continuous hemorrhage or to excessive blood transfusions that lead to excessive production of harmful thrombin and arterial or venous embolism.10 Therefore, TEG, as a more accurate detection and evaluation method, has recently attracted the attention of clinicians. The present study investigated the factors that influence significant perioperative hemorrhage and transfusion demand in patients undergoing OPCABG, particularly focusing on the predictive value of TEG parameters for significant perioperative hemorrhage.

Based on the TEG parameters after heparin neutralization, the present study found that patients were in a state of hypercoagulation in terms of coagulation factors, fibrinogen levels, and hyperactive platelet function after OPCABG compared with the baseline data before surgery; this finding is consistent with previous studies.11,12 However, the results of laboratory tests revealed that fibrinogen levels decreased with the prolongation of PT and APTT. Although the laboratory test results were not consistent with the results of the TEG, the differences are supported by previous research,12 which suggests that they might be caused by three factors. First, TEG detection is based on testing whole-blood components, while PT and APTT are based on testing plasma alone, so they do not take into account the influence of red blood cells and platelets on coagulation, resulting in the incomprehensive evaluation of coagulation function.13 Second, TEG detection reflects coagulation function, while laboratory tests reflect the quantity of the blood components. Last, hemodilution during surgery may be a contributing factor.

The differences in the level of coagulation factors, fibrinogen function, and platelet function between the two groups at T2 were statistically significant, and coagulation dysfunction was more obvious in the TEG abnormal group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the administration of clopidogrel within three days before surgery, platelet count, fibrinogen levels, and TEG parameters at T2 were significantly correlated with the increased risk of perioperative hemorrhage, while PT and APTT could not predict the increase in perioperative hemorrhage and blood transfusion. This finding is consistent with previous studies.14

In terms of the recent postoperative indicators in patients, such as the volume of drainage within 24 hours, red blood cell count, and volume of plasma transfusion, combined with hemostasis during the second thoracotomy, the differences between the TEG abnormal group and TEG normal group in the present study were statistically significant. It was found that the abnormality in TEG parameters could increase the risk of perioperative hemorrhage by 2.9 times. Hemorrhage after cardiac surgery is correlated with many factors, including patient characteristics, preoperative medication, operation conditions, and anesthesia management. Previous studies15–17 have shown that TEG can be used to preoperatively evaluate the platelet function in patients undergoing OPCABG, help surgeons choose the most suitable operation time, and reduce the waiting time before surgery. As mentioned in the 2017 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery’s Guidelines on Patient Blood Management for Adult Cardiac Surgery,14 platelet function testing can be used to guide and determine the timing of cardiac surgery in patients who have recently received P2Y12 inhibitors or are receiving DAPT. The results of the present study identified a positive correlation between abnormal TEG parameters after heparin neutralization and the significant increase in perioperative hemorrhage during OPCABG. Through the evaluation of TEG in clinical practice, the coagulation function of patients after surgery can be observed, clinical transfusion strategies can be guided in a timely manner, and perioperative blood loss can be reduced.

The present study had some limitations. First, it was a single-center retrospective study. Second, statistics were not created for the results of the TEG, PT, APTT, and other data after 24 hours. Where patients had no obvious contraindications, they started antiplatelet therapy again six hours after OPCABG, which could have interfered with the coagulation function and test results. Third, some patients in the present study had acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and some continued to take clopidogrel within three days before the operation. Previous studies have shown that this can lead to an increased incidence of postoperative hemorrhage;18–20 in the present study, 53.43% (TEG normal group) and 61.16% (TEG abnormal group) of patients took clopidogrel within three days before surgery, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Fourth, DAPT was investigated only in light of its association with aspirin and clopidogrel, although the current guidelines for the treatment of ACS also recommend the use of prasugrel and ticagrelor based on the ischemic vs hemorrhagic risk of the patient. In the TRITON-TIMI 38 and PLATO trials, in which prasugrel and ticagrelor, respectively, were tested against clopidogrel in combination with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), both newer P2Y12 inhibitors were more effective than clopidogrel in preventing fatal outcomes, with a higher risk of bleeding in the TRITON-TIMI 38 trial but not in the PLATO trial. Fifth, the present study did not define the hemoglobin threshold for transfusion and considered only platelet count rather than platelet function. Sixth, it is unclear whether the patients who had clopidogrel within three days before surgery were treated with DAPT or clopidogrel only. Seventh, the study did not clarify the extra precautions that should be taken in patients with abnormal TEG parameters during the postoperative period. The study did not clarify the TEG evaluation in the preoperative period, and what can TEG abnormal during T2 period add extra to avoid excessive bleeding. Last, the study did not identify which of the four TEG parameters was most valuable in predicting postoperative blood loss, bearing in mind that some parameters are interlinked.

Conclusion

The present study confirmed the role of abnormal TEG parameters in predicting significant perioperative blood loss and blood transfusion demand after heparin neutralization in patients undergoing OPCABG. It also provided support for its potential role in guiding blood-transfusion management in patients with non-surgical bleeding after OPCABG. Further prospective trials exploring the role of TEG during the perioperative period in OPCABG would be worthwhile.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

I confirm that I have read the Editorial Policy pages. This study was conducted with approval from the Ethics Committee of Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University (2020-R270). This study was conducted in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the hard and dedicated work of all the staff that implemented the intervention and evaluation components of the study.

Funding

Hebei Province 2016 Key Topics of Medical Science Research (20160105)- Clinical Application of thrombosis attempts in critical coronary bypass transplantation perforation.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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