Coagulation and transfusion in the postoperative bleeding patient

Bleeding can be minimal, severe, life-threatening, or organ-threatening. Depending on the compensatory capacity of the patient, most bleeding events going beyond 20% blood volume may represent an emergency as well as a risk factor for anemia, transfusion, coagulopathy, and tissue hypoperfusion. All these factors are independent predictors for survival in postoperative critical care and are drivers for resource use and costs.

A systematic literature search behind the guidelines from the European Society of Anesthesiology on the management of severe perioperative bleeding gives an up-to-date evidence-based summary of strategies intended to correct hemostasis, control bleeding, and increase patient safety. The current review discusses information, recommendations, and suggestions in the European Society of Anesthesiology guidelines, which appear applicable to the bleeding patient after the end of surgery.

Individualized coagulation management guided by viscoelastic tests and restrictive transfusion behavior are encouraged in clinical practice of critical care. Potential fields of research are multifold, for example, thromboembolic adverse effects of hemostatic interventions in the isochronic postoperative acute-phase response, transfusion restrictions by increasing postoperative tolerance to anemia and erythropoiesis, and implementation of guidelines and institutional algorithms.