The rationale for platelet transfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass: an observational study

Platelet transfusion in cardiac surgery is often empiric as no established point-of-care tests are available for clear guidance of blood product administration, and there are many variables that can potentially increase the risk of bleeding during cardiopulmonary bypass. The objectives of this study were to determine the factors that influenced physicians' decisions to transfuse platelets perioperatively and to determine whether these factors coincide with characteristics using chart abstraction.

This study was conducted at three university affiliated hospitals using focused physician questionnaires to assess factors influencing decisions to transfuse platelets and data abstraction to determine characteristics of patients receiving platelet transfusion during cardiac surgery.

Seventy-six physicians participated in the questionnaire; 41% identified bleeding and 22% identified both bleeding and the platelet count as the most significant factors influencing their decision to transfuse platelets. Of the 629 patients included in the study, 24.5% received a platelet transfusion intraoperatively and 4.5% received the transfusion postoperatively. The following factors were identified with the highest odds of receiving a platelet transfusion intraoperatively: combined bypass and valvular surgery (odds ratio [OR] 3.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.94 to 8.00) and the presence of liver disease (OR 6.43; 95% CI 1.17 to 35.37).

The use of focused physician questionnaires identified relevant aspects of patient care not apparent in the chart review that influenced the decision to transfuse platelets. The identification of bleeding, thrombocytopenia, more complex surgery, and the presence of liver disease highlights the requirement for standardized measures to assess the need for platelet transfusions in bleeding patients.