Bleeding risk assessment using whole blood impedance aggregometry and rotational thromboelastometry in patients following cardiac surgery

Excessive bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is risk factor for adverse outcomes after elective cardiac surgery (ECS). Differentiating between patients who bleed due to surgical issues and those whose excessive chest tube output (CTO) is due to coagulopathy, remains challenging. Bedside suitable tests to identify hemostatic disturbances and predict excessive bleeding are desirable. The study sought to evaluate prediction of excessive bleeding after ECS using two bedside suitable devices for platelet function and viscoelastic blood clot properties assessment. We enrolled 148 patients (105 male and 43 female) undergoing ECS in a prospective observational study. Patients were characterized as bleeders if their 24 h CTO exceeded the 75th percentile of distribution. Multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA, with ASPI, ADP and the TRAP test) and rotational thromboelastometry (TEM, with ExTEM, HepTEM and FibTEM test), were performed at three time points: preoperatively (T1), during CPB (T2), and after protamine administration (T3). The primary endpoint was CTO and the secondary endpoint was administration of blood products, 30-day and 1 year mortality. The best predictors of increased bleeding tendency were the tests performed after protamine administration (T3). At T3, patients characterized as bleeders had significantly lower MEA ASPI (median, 14 vs. 27 AUC, p = 0.004) and ADP test values (median, 22 vs. 41 AUC, p = 0.002) as well as TEM values expressed in maximum clot firmness after 30 min (MCF 30) for ExTEM (53 vs. 56 mm, p = 0.005), HepTEM (48 vs. 52 mm, p = 0.003) and FibTEM (8 vs. 11 mm, p < 0.001) test. 24 h CTO inversely correlated with both the MEA (ASPI test: r = -0.236, p = 0.004; ADP test: r = -0.299, p < 0.001), and TEM MCF 30 (ExTEM: r = -0.295, p < 0.001; HepTEM: -0.329, p < 0.001; FibTEM: -0.377, p < 0.001) test values. Our study showed that MEA and TEM are useful methods for prediction of excessive bleeding after ECS. In order to prevent excessive postoperative CTO, hemostatic interventions with timely and targeted blood component therapy according to MEA and TEM results should be considered