Transfusión según cifras de hemoglobina o de acuerdo con objetivos terapéuticos

La transfusión de sangre alogénica y la anemia se han relacionado con peores resultados clínicos en diferentes poblaciones de pacientes quirúrgicos. En la actualidad, esta afirmación sigue siendo un tema de debate porque está por afirmar si la anemia es un factor de riesgo independiente de peor pronóstico..

Peri-operative treatment of anaemia in major orthopaedic surgery: a practical approach from Spain

In patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery, pre-operative anaemia, peri-operative bleeding and a liberal transfusion policy are the main risk factors for requiring red blood cell transfusion (RBCT). The clinical and economic disadvantages of RBCT have led to the development and implementation of multidisciplinary, multimodal, individualised strategies, collectively termed patient blood management, which aim to reduce RBCT and improve patients' clinical outcome and safety. Within a patient blood management programme, low pre-operative haemoglobin is one of the few modifiable risk factors for RBCT. However, a survey among Anaesthesia Departments in Spain revealed that, although pre-operative assessment was performed in the vast majority of hospitals, optimisation of haemoglobin concentration was attempted in <40% of patients who may have benefitted from it, despite there being enough time prior to surgery. This indicates that haemoglobin optimisation takes planning and forethought to be implemented in an effective manner. This review, based on available clinical evidence and our experience, is intended to provide clinicians with a practical tool to optimise pre-operative haemoglobin levels, in order to minimise the risk of patients requiring RBCT. To this purpose, after reviewing the diagnostic value and limitations of available laboratory parameters, we developed an algorithm for the detection, classification and treatment of pre-operative anaemia, with a patient-tailored approach that facilitates decision-making in the pre-operative assessment. We also reviewed the efficacy of the different pharmacological options for pre-operative and post-operative management of anaemia. We consider that such an institutional pathway for anaemia management could be a viable, cost-effective strategy that is beneficial to both patients and healthcare systems

Transcranial Doppler monitoring during laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion

We studied the consequences on cerebral hemodynamics of lengthy laparoscopic procedures requiring pneumoperitoneum and head-down positioning. From October 1995 to April 1999, 17 ASA status I or II patients (16 women and 1 man; mean age, 38 yr) were treated with laparoscopic anterior lumbar fusion. Besides standard perioperative monitoring for laparoscopic surgery, the mean blood-flow velocity of both middle cerebral arteries and the pulsatility index were determined by transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Adequate acoustic windows were encountered in 11 of the 17 patients, and the remaining 6 were excluded from the analysis. PaCO(2) and end-tidal CO(2) were maintained within normal limits (<40 mm Hg); ventilation was optimized in all cases. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in heart rate and central venous pressure with the change from supine to head-down position in all patients. Transcranial Doppler results for mean middle cerebral artery blood-flow velocity and pulsatility index showed no significant variations at any of the four time points studied during the procedure. There were no technique-related complications, except for moderate postoperative headache in eight patients that resolved with rest and oxygen therapy. We conclude that lengthy laparoscopic procedures in the head-down position performed in otherwise healthy patients do not significantly affect intracranial circulation

Coagulation abnormalities following nexoBrid use: a case report

Patients with major burn injury undergo a series of pathophysiologic changes that begin with a systemic inflammatory response and coagulation abnormalities, similar to those experienced by patients with sepsis or severe trauma. Coagulation changes in patients with burns are generally characterized by procoagulant abnormalities, but alterations in fibrinolysis and anticoagulation factors have also been observed. Around 40% of patients with major burn show changes on standard coagulation tests, and these have been related to the severity of the lesions, smoke inhalation, and administration of intensive fluid resuscitation therapy. Current surgical techniques for debridement of burn lesions are aggressive and associated with considerable blood loss. A fast-acting selective enzymatic debriding agent based on bromelain has been recently developed. NexoBrid is indicated for removing eschar in adults with deep partial- and full-thickness thermal burns. A potential effect of oral bromelain on hemostasis has been described, but it is uncertain whether NexoBrid application has a clinically relevant impact in this regard. We present the clinical case of a patient with burns who showed a coagulation abnormality shortly after NexoBrid use

Epidemiology and mortality in patients hospitalized for burns in Catalonia, Spain

Burn injuries are one of the leading causes of morbidity worldwide. Although the overall incidence of burns and burn-related mortality is declining, these factors have not been analysed in our population for 25 years. The aim of this study has been to determine whether the epidemiological profile of patients hospitalized for burns has changed over the past 25 years. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalised between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2018 with a primary diagnosis of burns. The incidence of burns in our setting was 3.68/105 population. Most patients admitted for burns were men (61%), aged between 35 and 45 years (16.8%), followed by children aged between 0 and 4 years (12.4%). Scalding was the most prevalent mechanism of injury, and the region most frequently affected was the hands. The mean burned total body surface (TBSA) area was 8.3%, and the proportion of severely burned patients was 9.7%. Obesity was the most prevalent comorbidity (39.5%). The median length of stay was 1.8 days. The most frequent in-hospital complications were sepsis (16.6%), acute kidney injury (7.9%), and cardiovascular complications (5.9%). Risk factors for mortality were advanced age, high abbreviated burn severity index score, smoke inhalation, existing cardiovascular disease full-thickness burn, and high percentage of burned TBSA. Overall mortality was 4.3%. Multi-organ failure was the most frequent cause of death, with an incidence of 49.5%. The population has aged over the 25 years since the previous study, and the number of comorbidities has increased. The incidence and severity of burns, and the percentage of burned TBSA have all decreased, with scalding being the most prevalent mechanism of injury. The clinical presentation and evolution of burns differs between children and adults. Risk factors for mortality were advanced age, smoke inhalation, existing cardiovascular disease, full-thickness burn, and high percentage of burned TBSA

Cardiac tamponade associated with a peripheral vein central venous catheter

We present a case of cardiac tamponade associated with placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) via a peripheral vein in a 14-year-old girl with idiopathic scoliosis undergoing corrective surgery. A number of complications have been described in association with CVC misplacement. Sporadic cases of cardiac tamponade from this have been reported, but the actual incidence is unknown. Death from cardiac tamponade attributed to CVCs ranges from 65 to 100%. In our patient, cannulation of the pericardiophrenic vein was probably the cause of cardiac tamponade, based on radiological evidence that the initial location of the catheter was near the right atrium and possibly at the outlet of the pericardiophrenic vein. The catheter could have advanced into the vein and then to the pericardial sac with postural changes. The acute clinical course of cardiac tamponade in our patient had potentially lethal hemodynamic repercussions. The main diagnostic test for this condition is echocardiography and the only effective treatment is drainage of the pericardial effusion. Echocardiography should be performed before pericardiocentesis except in life-threatening situations or high clinical suspicion. Although they are rare, it is important to be aware of the potential for CVC complications

Antifibrinolytic therapy in complex spine surgery: a case-control study comparing aprotinin and tranexamic acid

Abstract: A case-control study was performed to determine the impact of aprotinin or tranexamic acid use on reducing intraoperative blood loss and transfusion needs in complex spine surgery. Sixty-nine patients undergoing complex spine surgery received aprotinin or tranexamic acid. The aprotinin group contained 30 patients (8 men and 22 women) and the tranexamic acid group 39 patients (11 men and 28 women). The following variables were recorded: duration of surgery, number of levels fused, intraoperative and total blood loss, and number of blood units transfused (autologous and allogenic). In addition, various parameters related to blood loss in this type of surgery were calculated. The groups differed with regard to duration of surgery (aprotinin 662 min vs tranexamic acid 448 min, P<.001) and number of levels fused (aprotinin 11.2 vs tranexamic acid 7.6, P=.004). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss (aprotinin 2118 mL vs tranexamic acid 1608 mL, P=.066) or total blood loss (aprotinin 3312 mL vs tranexamic acid 2627 mL, P=.056). Statistical differences were found for the number of autologous blood units transfused (aprotinin 2.2 vs tranexamic acid 1.3 P=.047) and total units transfused (aprotinin 4.1 vs tranexamic acid 2.6, P=.008). Blood loss per hour of surgery, transfused units per level fused, and transfused units per hour of surgery were similar in the 2 groups. Significant differences were found for intraoperative blood loss per fusion level (aprotinin 228 mL vs tranexamic acid 428, P=.025) and total blood loss per fusion level (aprotinin 360 mL vs tranexamic acid 638 mL, P=.01). Analysis of the applied geometric mean showed that aprotinin reduced total blood loss by 16.4% and total number of blood units transfused by 12.4% as compared to tranexamic acid, although statistical significance was not reached. The type of antifibrinolytic used did not have a significant impact on the main outcome variables of the study

Perioperative use of prothrombin complex concentrates

Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are purified drug products with hemostatic activity derived from a plasma pool. Today, PCCs contain a given and proportional amount of four non-activated vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors (II, VII, IX, and X), a variable amount of anticoagulant proteins (proteins C and S, and in some antithrombin) and low-dose heparin. In some countries PCC products contained only three clotting factors, II, IX, and X. Dosage recommendations are based on IU of F-IX, so that one IU of F-IX represents the activity of F-IX in 1 mL of plasma. Reversion of the anticoagulant effect of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in cases of symptomatic overdose, active bleeding episodes, or need for emergency surgery is the most important indication for PCCs and this effect of PCCs appears to be more complete and rapid than that caused by administration of fresh frozen plasma. They may be considered as safe preparations if they are used for their approved indications at the recommended dosage with adequate precautions for administration, and have been shown to be effective for reversing the effect of VKAs. Their adequate use based on decision algorithms in the perioperative setting allows a rapid normalization of International Normalized Ratio (INR) for performing emergency surgery, minimizing bleeding risk. This review aims to propose two algorithms for the use of PCCs in the perioperative setting, one to calculate the PCCs dose to be administered in a bleeding patient and/or immediately before urgent surgery, based on patient's clinical status, prior INR and INR target and another for reversing the action of oral anticoagulants depending on urgency of surgery

Perioperative management of face transplantation: A survey

Background: Since the first facial allograft transplantation was reported in France in 2005, 18 cases have been performed in 4 countries and the rate is increasing. Methods: We have devised a survey to assess anesthesia-related management and rationale of facial allograft transplantation. It was sent to the lead anesthesiologists of the first 14 face transplants performed worldwide. Results: Responses were received corresponding to 13 face transplants. The median duration of surgery and anesthesia was 19 hours (95% confidence interval 15-23 hours). The surgical preparation and dissection of multiple small anatomical structures of the recipient was time-consuming for 11 cases. Blood loss was considerable. All patients received packed red blood cells (median 20 U, 95% confidence interval 5-28 U). A median of 13 L of crystalloid was administered (95% confidence interval 10-18 L). Conclusions: During facial allograft transplantation, the anesthesiologist must be prepared for a long anesthetic with rapid blood loss after reperfusion of the graft. Comment in Out on a limb with composite tissue allografts: expanding the immunology toolbox. [Anesth Analg. 2012

Thromboprophylaxis in elective spinal surgery: a protocol for systematic review

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious, sometimes life-threatening complication that can occur following spine surgery. The incidence of VTE, and the optimal type and timing of thromboprophylaxis for this complication in elective spine surgery is a matter of debate. Objective: To perform a systematic review with the aim of clarifying the efficacy and adverse effects of mechanical and chemical prophylaxis for preventing thromboembolic complications in elective spine surgery for conditions other than trauma and malignant disease. Methods/design: A search strategy of related articles up to March 2018 was designed and executed in Medline and Embase. Patients: adolescents (>10 years) and adults undergoing elective surgery for spinal deformity or degenerative disease (from C1 to S1). Intervention: Perioperative mechanical and chemical thromboprophylaxis. Studies could be randomized controlled trials or observational studies that reported data on any relevant clinical outcomes. Results: In total, 2451 uniquecitations were identified and 35 studies were ultimately included in the systematic review. The overall mean incidence of complications was 3.7% for deep venous thrombosis, 0.0% for pulmonary embolism, and 3.7% for bleeding in chemoprophylaxis group; 2.9% for deep venous thrombosis, 0.4% for pulmonary embolism and 0.0% for bleeding in mechanoprophylaxis; and 0.7% for deep venous thrombosis, 0.1% for pulmonary embolism and 0.2% for bleeding in mixed prophylaxis group with no specific data on these rates for the type of patient and type and location of surgery. None of the articles retrieved provided information on the adolescent population. Discussion and conclusions: The poor design and high variability among the studies regarding characteristics of study population, details of interventions, and definitions of outcomes, determines a low quality of the available evidence and limits the interpretation of the results. We were unable to identify a clear advantage of one type of thromboprophylaxis over the other, although there was an increased risk of bleeding with chemoprophylaxis, which could favor the use of mechanoprophylaxis in this scenario