Emergency surgery, blood transfusion, and reoperation for bleeding have been associated with increased operative morbidity and mortality. The recent increased use of direct oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications have made the above more challenging. In addition, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with its associated hemodilution, fibrinolysis and platelet consumption may exacerbate the pre-existing coagulopathy and increase the risk of bleeding. Management decisions are typically made on a case-by-case basis. Surgery is delayed when possible and less invasive percutaneous options should be considered if feasible. Attention is paid to exercising meticulous techniques, avoiding excessive hypothermia and treating coexisting issues such as sepsis. Ensuring a dry operative field upon entry by correcting the coagulopathy with reversal agents is offset by the concern of potentially hindering efforts to anticoagulate the patient (heparin resistance) in preparation for CPB, in addition to possibly increasing the risk of thromboembolism. Proper knowledge of the anticoagulants, their reversal agents, and the usefulness of laboratory testing are all essential. Platelet transfusion remains mainstay for antiplatelet medications. Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate is considered in patients on oral anticoagulants if CPB needs to be instituted quickly. Specific reversal agents such as idarucizumab and andexanet alfa can be considered if significant tissue dissection is anticipated such as redo sternotomy, but are costly and may lead to heparin resistance and anticoagulant rebound.

Emergency surgery, blood transfusion, and reoperation for bleeding have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Every effort is made to optimize patients preoperatively including cessation of oral anticoagulants in an attempt to normalize the coagulation profile. The recent explosive use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and antiplatelet medications has made the above more difficult. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), with its associated fibrinolysis and platelet consumption, may exacerbate a pre-existing coagulopathy. In addition, the underlying surgical pathology, such as endocarditis accompanied by sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) or aortic dissection requiring hypothermia and circulatory arrest, can aggravate an already challenged hematological profile. Ensuring a dry operative field upon entry by correcting the coagulopathy is offset by the concern of potentially hindering efforts to anticoagulate the patient in preparation for CPB, in addition to possibly creating a hypercoagulable state that could increase the risk of thromboembolic events. Management is challenging and decisions are typically made on a case-by-case basis. Surgery is delayed when possible and less invasive percutaneous options should be considered if feasible. If surgery is unavoidable, attention is paid to exercising meticulous techniques, avoiding excessive hypothermia, treating coexisting issues such as sepsis and correcting the coagulopathy with antidotes, reversal agents and blood products, with the understanding that a normal coagulation profile does not necessarily translate into hemostasis or the absence of thrombosis. Proper knowledge of the mechanism of action of the oral anticoagulants, available antidotes and their time to onset are essential in properly treating this difficult patient population.

Background: Cardiac surgeries use 10%–15% of red blood cells transfused in the United States, despite benefits of limiting transfusions. We sought to evaluate the the feasibility and impact of a restrictive transfusion protocol on blood use and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing isolated primary coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: Blood conservation measures, instituted in 2012, include preoperative optimization, intraoperative anesthesia and pump fluid restriction with retrograde autologous priming and vacuum-assisted drainage, use of aminocaproic acid and cell saver, intra- and postoperative permissive anemia, and administration of iron and lowdose vasopressors if needed. Medical records of patients who underwent isolated primary CABG from 2009–2012 (group A; n=375) and 2013–2016 (group B; n=322) were compared. Results: CABG with grafting to 3 or 4 coronary arteries was performed in 262 (70%) and 222 (69%) patients and bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting in 202 (54%) and 196 (61%) patients in groups A and B, respectively. Mean preoperative and intraoperative hematocrit was 40.3% and 40.7%, 28.9% and 29.4% in groups A and B, respectively. Total blood transfusion was 24% and 6.5%, intraoperative transfusion 10% and 1.2%, postoperative transfusion 19% and 5.3% (p<0.0001 for all) in groups A and B, respectively. Median postoperative length of stay was 5.0 days in group A and 4.5 days in group B (p =.02), with no significant differences between groups in mortality or morbidity. Conclusions: A restrictive transfusion protocol reduced blood transfusions and postoperative length of stay without adversely affecting outcomes following isolated primary CABG.