Pro: Priming the Cardiopulmonary Bypass Circuit With Fresh Frozen Plasma Reduces Bleeding in Complex Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

CARDIAC SURGERY is inherently complex and is associated with a high risk of perioperative bleeding. As such, it is responsible for a disproportionate percentage of annual blood product usage in the United States, accounting for approximately 10%-to-15% of total blood transfusions and up to 50% of platelets annually transfused. 1 Bolliger D Tanaka KA. Coagulation management strategies in cardiac surgery. Curr Anesth Reports. 2017; 7: 265-272 Crossref Google Scholar ,2 Mossad EB Machado S Apostolakis J. Bleeding following deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest in children. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2007; 11: 34-46 Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar The transfusion rate within cardiac surgery is highly variable and is dependent on numerous factors, such as type of procedure, patient acuity, institutional norms/protocols, and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Reports in the literature estimate that 50%-to-65% of all patients undergoing surgery with CPB will require a blood transfusion in the perioperative period. 2 Mossad EB Machado S Apostolakis J. Bleeding following deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest in children. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2007; 11: 34-46 Crossref PubMed Scopus (28) Google Scholar