Evidence‐Based Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Perioperative Blood Loss in Major Spinal Surgery in Resource‐Constrained Settings: A Systematic Review Article
Background Major spinal surgery may be associated with significant perioperative bleeding, which increases the rate of transfusion requirements, prolongs hospital stays, increases infection rates, and increases medical expenditures. Despite the availability of multiple pharmacological and clinical (surgical) strategies to mitigate bleeding, there are limited evidence‐based practice guidelines on the perioperative prevention and management of bleeding in major spinal surgical procedures in resource‐limited settings, including Ethiopia. This may limit the proper perioperative prevention and management of significant blood loss, leading to increased complication risks and reduced patient outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to develop the evidence‐based practice guidelines for the prevention and management of perioperative bleeding in major spinal surgery in low‐resource settings. Methods Literature search was conducted on PubMed, Hinari, Google Scholar, Cochrane Review, and CINAHIL databases published between January 2015 and August 2025 by setting inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following data extraction, the methodological quality, populations, intervention, and outcomes of interest were used for data filtering. Finally, nine systematic reviews and meta‐analyses, one systematic review, thirteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and two cohort studies were included in the current review, and conclusions were drawn based on the levels of evidence (LOE) and grades of recommendations (GOR). The guidelines were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA). Results A total of 25 studies were incorporated in this study. This guideline was developed based on different studies conducted on early diagnosis, risk identification and reduction, and the prevention and management of significant perioperative bleeding in major spinal surgical procedures. Conclusion Perioperative management of significant bleeding in major spinal surgery includes preoperative risk assessment and optimization, early diagnosis, and proper management. Higher LOE study supports a multimodal strategy across the perioperative phases for the prevention and control of perioperative bleeding during major spinal surgery.
- Research Article
7
- 10.1097/eja.0b013e328361af11
- Jun 1, 2013
- European Journal of Anaesthesiology
All we ever wanted to know about perioperative bleeding
- Research Article
298
- 10.1097/eja.0000000000001803
- Apr 1, 2023
- European Journal of Anaesthesiology
Management of peri-operative bleeding is complex and involves multiple assessment tools and strategies to ensure optimal patient care with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality. These updated guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) aim to provide an evidence-based set of recommendations for healthcare professionals to help ensure improved clinical management. A systematic literature search from 2015 to 2021 of several electronic databases was performed without language restrictions. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies and to formulate recommendations. A Delphi methodology was used to prepare a clinical practice guideline. These searches identified 137 999 articles. All articles were assessed, and the existing 2017 guidelines were revised to incorporate new evidence. Sixteen recommendations derived from the systematic literature search, and four clinical guidances retained from previous ESAIC guidelines were formulated. Using the Delphi process on 253 sentences of guidance, strong consensus (>90% agreement) was achieved in 97% and consensus (75 to 90% agreement) in 3%. Peri-operative bleeding management encompasses the patient's journey from the pre-operative state through the postoperative period. Along this journey, many features of the patient's pre-operative coagulation status, underlying comorbidities, general health and the procedures that they are undergoing need to be taken into account. Due to the many important aspects in peri-operative nontrauma bleeding management, guidance as to how best approach and treat each individual patient are key. Understanding which therapeutic approaches are most valuable at each timepoint can only enhance patient care, ensuring the best outcomes by reducing blood loss and, therefore, overall morbidity and mortality. All healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients at risk for surgical bleeding should be aware of the current therapeutic options and approaches that are available to them. These guidelines aim to provide specific guidance for bleeding management in a variety of clinical situations.
- Research Article
4
- 10.1016/j.jtha.2025.08.029
- Dec 1, 2025
- Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH
Perioperative use of factor concentrates and blood products-a survey of clinical practices in the United States: communication from the ISTH Subcommittee on Perioperative and Critical Care.
- Research Article
254
- 10.1093/bja/aeu303
- Feb 1, 2015
- British Journal of Anaesthesia
Usefulness of standard plasma coagulation tests in the management of perioperative coagulopathic bleeding: is there any evidence?
- Abstract
2
- 10.1016/j.healun.2019.01.831
- Mar 15, 2019
- The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
Point of Care Management of Perioperative Bleeding or Coagulopathy and Volume Replacement Strategy with Albumin 5% Seems to Reduce Primary Graft Disfunction after Lung Transplantation (Preliminary Results)
- Research Article
26
- 10.1016/j.healun.2021.03.020
- Mar 29, 2021
- The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
Rotational thromboelastometry reduces blood loss and blood product usage after lung transplantation
- Research Article
15
- 10.4103/joacp.joacp_410_20
- Jan 1, 2021
- Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology
In a developing country like India, with limited resources and access to healthcare facilities, dealing with massive hemorrhage is a major challenge. This challenge gets compounded by pre-existing anemia, hemostatic disorders, and logistic issues of timely transfer of such patients from peripheral hospitals to centers with adequate resources and management expertise. Despite the awareness amongst healthcare providers regarding management modalities of bleeding patients, no uniform Patient Blood Management (PBM) or perioperative bleeding management protocols have been implemented in India, yet. In light of this, an interdisciplinary expert group came together, comprising of experts working in transfusion medicine, hematology, obstetrics, anesthesiology and intensive care, to review current practices in management of bleeding in Indian healthcare institutions and evaluating the feasibility of implementing uniform PBM guidelines. The specific intent was to perform a gap analysis between the ideal and the current status in terms of practices and resources. The expert group identified interdisciplinary education in PBM and bleeding management, bleeding history, viscoelastic and platelet function testing, and the implementation of validated, setting-specific bleeding management protocols (algorithms) as important tools in PBM and perioperative bleeding management. Here, trauma, major surgery, postpartum hemorrhage, cardiac and liver surgery are the most common clinical settings associated with massive blood loss. Accordingly, PBM should be implemented as a multidisciplinary and practically applicable concept in India in a timely manner in order to optimize the use the precious resource blood and to increase patients' safety.
- Research Article
57
- 10.1007/s00464-016-5383-y
- Dec 23, 2016
- Surgical Endoscopy
Bleeding and gastric fistula are the most common postoperative complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The long stapler line represents the most frequent source of bleeding, which ranges between 0 and 20%. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the 4-year experience of a high-volume center with respect to the prevention and management of perioperative LSG bleeding. The prospectively maintained database from June 2012 to June 2016 was reviewed. Outcomes, especially perioperative bleeding (until patient discharge), its management, and follow-ups, were analyzed. Out of 870 LSG (603 females, 267 males), 31 cases (3.5%) of postoperative complications were registered: bleeding was the most frequent complication (1.9%). Hemoperitoneum was managed laparoscopically in 9/17 patients (52.9%) with only one conversion to laparotomy (11.1%). Conservative treatment successfully controlled bleeding in 8/17 patients (47.1%). However, four patients (50%) developed an infected hematoma; two of them were treated conservatively with a CT-guided drainage, and the other two were complicated by late gastric leak treated laparoscopically. No mortalities occurred in the investigated cases. In a high-volume center, the expected incidence of bleeding after LSG is 1.7% even after the adoption of all preventive strategies. The intraoperative protocol for detecting silent bleeding was effective, and no cases of bleeding were observed since its application. Our findings showed that the conservative management of postoperative bleeding should be considered as a high-risk condition for late leakage.
- Discussion
3
- 10.1093/bja/aep070
- May 1, 2009
- British Journal of Anaesthesia
Coagulation tests in future studies: what to use?
- Abstract
1
- 10.1136/rapm-2023-esra.678
- Sep 1, 2023
- Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
#37207 Improving outcomes in postpartum haemorrhage: recognition and resuscitation
- Research Article
3
- 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.01.097
- Mar 1, 2025
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Part 2: Management of Intraoperative and Perioperative Bleeding
- Research Article
54
- 10.1097/aco.0000000000000308
- Jun 1, 2016
- Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
Managing the bleeding pediatric patient perioperatively can be extremely challenging. The primary goals include avoiding hypotension, maintaining adequate tissue perfusion and oxygenation, and maintaining hemostasis. Traditional bleeding management has consisted of transfusion of autologous blood products, however, there is strong evidence that transfusion-related side-effects are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in children. Especially concerning is the increased reported incidence of noninfectious adverse events such as transfusion-related acute lung injury, transfusion-related circulatory overload and transfusion-related immunomodulation. The current approach in perioperative bleeding management of the pediatric patient should focus on the diagnosis and treatment of anemia and coagulopathy with the transfusion of blood products only when clinically indicated and guided by goal-directed strategies. Current guidelines recommend that a comprehensive multimodal patient blood management strategy is critical in optimizing patient care, avoiding unnecessary transfusion of blood and blood product and limiting transfusion-related side-effects. This article will highlight current guidelines in perioperative bleeding management for our most vulnerable pediatric patients with emphasis on individualized targeted intervention using point-of-care testing and specific coagulation products.
- Research Article
8
- 10.1016/j.rcae.2012.10.006
- Dec 11, 2012
- Colombian Journal of Anesthesiology
Management of perioperative bleeding in children. Step by step review
- Research Article
2
- 10.1111/jocs.14354
- Nov 11, 2019
- Journal of cardiac surgery
Gray platelet syndrome (GPS) is a rare (<1/1 000 000) and inherited platelet function disorder characterized by macrothrombocytopenia, α-granule deficiency, and hemorrhages. Bleeding intensity does not correlate with platelet count nor with functional test results. We hereby describe the perioperative bleeding prevention and management of a patient with GPS requiring multiple redo cardiac surgeries.
- Research Article
- 10.1097/io9.0000000000000351
- Feb 17, 2026
- International Journal of Surgery Open
Perioperative management of bleeding in trauma patients: a comprehensive review and analysis