The Impact of Thromboelastography on Blood Transfusion Policy in Adult Cardiac Surgery-A Retrospective Observational Study from Eastern India.

This study was conducted to determine the impact of thromboelastography (TEG) on blood transfusion policy regarding utilization and preparation of cryoprecipitate in adult cardiac surgery. The differences in total transfusion requirement, length of postoperative ICU stay and 24 h mortality were also studied after introduction of TEG in transfusion protocol. It was a retrospective, single-center, observational study conducted in adult patients underwent cardiac surgery from April 2008 to March 2016. Two thousand patients underwent surgery when TEG was used compared with 1000 control patients before availability of TEG. Significantly more patients in the TEG group versus the control group received cryoprecipitate (41 vs. 7%; p < 0.05), while fewer received a transfusion (60 vs. 87.5%; p < 0.05). Significant increase in cryoprecipitate preparation was observed after introduction of TEG. Patients underwent surgery in TEG group showed substantial reduction in administration of PRBC (2.1 vs. 3.5 U; p < 0.05); FFP (2.4 vs. 3.8 U; p < 0.05) and platelets (1.1 vs. 2.7 U; p < 0.05) compared to control group without compromising the length of ICU stay or postoperative mortality. A TEG-guided approach in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery may increase the use of cryoprecipitate, while decreasing the overall requirement of blood transfusion.