Platelet glass bead retention predicts bleeding after cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the platelet glass bead retention assay can predict bleeding after cardiac surgery.


METHODS
Prospective, observational study.


METHODS
Large, tertiary care, academic medical center.


METHODS
Forty-three adult patients scheduled to undergo elective cardiac surgery employing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).


RESULTS
Whole blood samples were observed for platelet count, prothrombin time, and platelet (glass bead) retention assay. The platelet retention and prothrombin times were independent univariant and multivariant predictors of bleeding after CPB (r = 0.554, p = 0.0002 and r = 0.655, p = 0.00001).


CONCLUSIONS
The platelet glass bead retention assay measures dynamic platelet function and is sensitive to the CPB-induced adhesion and aggregation defect and correlates with postoperative blood loss. Modification of this platelet function assay used with the prothrombin time may provide a simple and effective diagnostic approach to bleeding after CPB.
Ereth
M H
MH
Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Nuttall
G A
GA
Ericson
D G
DG
Cooney
W P
WP
Fisher
B R
BR
Oliver
W C
WC
Schaff
H V
HV
Fass
D N
DN
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010976:Platelet Count; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011517:Prothrombin Time
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin