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Published on: July 31, 2016
Prohemostatic treatment in cardiac surgery
Jerrold H Levy1, Roman M Sniecinski
1Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University School of Medicine and Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. Jlevy01@emory.edu
Insights
Cardiac surgery patients often experience coagulopathy from various factors. This review covers pharmacological agents like antifibrinolytics and prohemostatic therapies to manage bleeding and reduce transfusions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
Background:
- Cardiac surgery patients present complex coagulopathy beyond blood loss.
- Factors include hemodilution, inflammation, and cardiopulmonary bypass-induced hemostatic activation.
- These factors offer therapeutic intervention targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review pharmacological agents for managing coagulopathy in cardiac surgery.
- To discuss strategies for reducing allogeneic blood transfusions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pharmacological agents used in cardiac surgery.
- Discussion of antifibrinolytics, prohemostatic agents, and topical agents.
Main Results:
- Multiple agents exist to manage bleeding and coagulation.
- Preemptive and prohemostatic strategies are employed.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacological interventions are crucial for managing coagulopathy in cardiac surgery.
- Targeting specific hemostatic pathways can reduce transfusion needs.
Abstract:
Cardiac surgical patients represent a unique group of patients where coagulopathy occurs due to multiple causes besides simple hemorrhagic blood loss. Hemodilution, inflammation, and hemostatic activation while on cardiopulmonary bypass all contribute to this problem and provide targets for therapeutic intervention. Current pharmacological strategies to reduce the need for allogeneic transfusions include both preemptive agents to decrease the potential for bleeding as well as prohemostatic agents to promote the coagulation process. This article will discuss pharmacological agents including antifibrinolytics, protamine, desmopressin, fibrinogen, purified protein concentrates, recombinant factor VIIa, factor XIII, and topical agents used in cardiac surgery.
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