Evaluation and Follow-up of a Protocol for the Management of the Patient at High Risk Hemorrhagic in Cardiac Surgery by Monitoring Viscoelastic Hemostasis.

Haemorragy is a frequent issue in cardiac surgery due to multiple contributing factors. Excessive bleeding as well as transfusion are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Haemostatic blood products (Fibrinogen, fresh frozen plasma, platelets) transfusion had historically been guided by routine coagulation tests (aPTT, PT, platelets and fibrinogen). However, the delay (Up to 60 minutes) often leads to an empirical use of blood products in a context where clinical judgment is unreliable due to the multiples mechanisms contributing to haemostatic failure.

Using viscoelastic tests (VET) in this context has several advantages :

• A quicker response (with first results from 10 minutes)
• An overall evaluation of haemostatic from the clot formation to its dissolution.

The use of VET has mainly been evaluated in cardiac surgery, with several recent meta-analysis : The use of transfusion algorithms based on VET is associated with less transfusions of red blood cell concentrates, plasma and platelets and also with less mortality, less re-interventions due to excessive bleeding and less post operative renal failure.