Preoperative exposure to calcium channel blockers suggests increased blood product use following cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
In this study the authors reviewed the medical records of a random sample of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) during the preceding ten years at University Medical Center. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of exposure to calcium channel blockers (CCB's) on blood product use following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).


METHODS



METHODS
Retrospective medical record review.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
527 patients undergoing CABG or re-do CABG.


METHODS
The medical records of approximately 50% of patients undergoing CABG or re-do CABG at University Medical Center between 1988 and 1998 were randomly selected by the medical records librarian for review. Preoperative medications, bypass time and temperature, and blood product use were recorded.


RESULTS
Of the 527 patients studied, 309 (59%) had no exposure to CCB's. 218 (41%) were on CCB's at the time of admission. Patients who were on CCB's had an average 12.5 (+/- 1.0) blood product units transfused following bypass whereas those not on CCB's had an average 8.7 (+/- 0.6) units transfused (p < 0.001). Use of packed red blood cells (p < 0.001), fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.018) and platelets (p = 0.023) were each individually significantly increased.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, it appeared that patients exposed to CCB's before cardiac revascularization received significantly more blood products than those who were not exposed to CCB's. Because of the limitations imposed by retrospective studies, further prospective studies are warranted to define the clinical significance of CCB use in the perioperative period.
Mychaskiw
G
G
University of Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology (Cardiac), Jackson 39216-4505, USA. Gmychaskiw@anesthesia.umsmed.edu
Hoehner
P
P
Abdel-Aziz
A
A
Brunson
C
C
DeLima
L G
LG
Badr
A E
AE
Eichhorn
J H
JH
Heath
B J
BJ
D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers