Impact of introduction of a goal directed transfusion strategy in a patient blood management program: A single cardiac surgery centre experience.

Background: The aim of this retrospective and observational study was to analyse the impact of the introduction of a goal directed transfusion (GDT) strategy based on a viscoelastic test (ROTEM®) and specific procoagulant products in a patient blood management (PBM) Program on blood product use and perioperative bleeding in a single cardiac surgery centre. Study Design and Methods: Patient population underwent cardiac surgery from 2011 to 2021 was divided in two groups based on PBM protocol used (G#11–14, years 2011–2014, G#15–21, years 2015–2021) and compared for the following variables: intraoperative and postoperative transfusions of packed red blood cell and any procoagulant products, postoperative drain blood loss volume and rate of re‐exploration surgery. The second program was defined after the introduction of a GDT protocol based on viscoelastic tests and specific procoagulant products. Results: After the introduction of a GDT protocol, about 80% less amongst patients were transfused with fresh frozen plasma and any procoagulant product (p < 0.001 for both phases). Moreover, similar results were obtained with PRBC transfusions (p < 0.001) and drain blood loss volume (p = 0.006) in the postoperative phase. The main factors affecting the use of any procoagulant and PBRC transfusion in the multivariate logistic regression analysis was Group (2 versus 1, OR 0.207, p < 0.001) and preoperative haemoglobin (OR 0.728, p < 0.001), respectively. Discussion: In our experience, a GDT strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of the coagulopathy in patients undergone cardiac surgery led to a significant reduction in bleeding and transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]