Retrospective study assessing outcomes in cardiac surgery after implementation of Quantra

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Hemostasis and Thrombosis
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• The Quantra QPlus System utilizes ultrasound technology to measure blood viscoelastic properties during coagulation, correlating with hemostatic function.
• Cardiac surgery patients often require blood product transfusions, necessitating strategies to optimize their use and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of implementing the Quantra QPlus System on blood product utilization in cardiac surgery patients.
• To compare blood product transfusion patterns and costs before and after the Quantra QPlus System's adoption.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study comparing two cohorts of 64 cardiac surgery patients each: pre-Quantra (standard assays) and post-Quantra (Quantra QPlus System).
• Analysis of blood product utilization, transfusion frequency, and associated costs between the two cohorts.
• Statistical analysis using the Student's t-test to compare transfusion data.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusions by 97% (P=0.0004) post-Quantra implementation.
• Observed decreases in cryoprecipitate (67%), platelets (26%), and packed red blood cells (10%), though not statistically significant.
• Overall blood product acquisition costs reduced by 41%, equating to approximately $40,682 in savings.

Conclusions:

• The Quantra QPlus System shows potential to enhance patient blood management strategies in cardiac surgery.
• Implementation of the Quantra QPlus System can lead to significant reductions in blood product utilization and associated healthcare costs.