Massive bleeding in cardiac surgery. Definitions, predictors and challenges

Severe or massive bleeding in cardiac surgery is an uncommon but important clinical scenario. Its existing definitions are diverse. Its characteristics constantly change during an active hemorrhage and, thus is difficult to define appropriately.

In this narrative, non-systematic review, we performed a literature search to retrieve data that could contribute to answering clinical questions on the definition and grading of severe hemorrhage and massive transfusion, identifying factors that predict and affect bleeding and transfusion-related mortality and describing the risks of re-exploration and the economic impact of severe bleeding in cardiac surgery.   Results: Massive perioperative bleeding is currently described by indices of its rate and extent and the magnitude of the consequent blood products transfusion. It has a significant impact on mortality, service logistics, and hospital financing. Proper and early identification of a massive bleeding is possible. Among other factors, patient's co-morbidities, bleeding severity and transfusion volume seem to predict the associated mortality. Consequent to severe bleeding, re-exploration, is also a potentially hazardous adverse event that also affects morbidity and mortality.

Severe perioperative hemorrhage in cardiac surgery carries significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, prediction and identification of massive bleeding is a feasible but incomplete clinical task despite the availability of effective treatment regimens. A still missing, compact definition of massive perioperative bleeding in cardiac surgery that incorporates all phases of treatment could augment clinical preparedness, allow for the development of accurate prediction tools and permit the application of well-validated protocols of management. Hippokratia 2016, 20(3): 179-186.