Cardiac Surgical Bleeding, Transfusion and Quality Metrics: Joint Consensus Statement by the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Society and Society for the Advancement of Patient Blood Management.

BACKGROUND

Excessive perioperative bleeding is associated with major complications in cardiac surgery, resulting in increased morbidity, mortality and cost.

METHODS

An international expert panel was convened to develop consensus statements on the control of bleeding and management of transfusion, and to suggest key quality metrics for cardiac surgical bleeding. The panel reviewed relevant literature from the previous 10 years and used a modified RAND Delphi methodology to achieve consensus.

RESULTS

Thirty consensus statements in 8 categories were developed, including prioritizing control of bleeding, pre-chest closure checklists and the need for additional quality indicators beyond re-exploration rate, such as time to re-exploration. Consensus was also reached on the need for a universal definition of excessive bleeding, the use of antifibrinolytics, optimal cessation of antithrombotic agents, and preoperative risk scoring based on patient and procedural factors to identify those at greatest risk of excessive bleeding. Furthermore, there is a need for an objective bleeding scale based on the volume and rapidity of blood loss accompanied by viscoelastic management algorithms and standardized, patient-centered blood management strategies reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to quality improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Prioritizing the timely control and management of bleeding is essential to improving patient outcomes in cardiac surgery. To this end, a cardiac surgical bleeding quality metric that is more comprehensive than re-exploration rate alone is needed. Similarly, interdisciplinary quality initiatives that seek to implement enhanced quality indicators will likely lead to improved patient care and outcomes.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.