Point-of-care testing for prothrombin time, but not activated partial thromboplastin time, correlates with laboratory methods in patients receiving aprotinin or epsilon-aminocaproic acid while undergoing cardiac surgery.
Point-of-care testing (POCT) of coagulation parameters can help optimize transfusion practice in cardiac surgery. Antifibrinolytic agents may interfere with the laboratory and/or POCT coagulation assays. This randomized controlled study compared coagulation parameters obtained from a whole blood POCT coagulation device with a typical laboratory instrument in cardiac surgery patients receiving aprotinin, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, or normal saline before undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Aliquots of arterial blood samples from 42 patients were collected perioperatively, and their prothrombin times (PTs) and activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs) were measured by POCT and laboratory instrumentation. Linear regression and error analyses were used for the method comparison. For PT, the POCT device compared favorably with the laboratory method. For aPTT, the POCT device did not compare well with the laboratory method. Treatment with antifibrinolytic agents does not interfere with determination of PT.
Choi
Tak-Shun
TS
Department of Pathology, Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center, TX 75216, USA.
Greilich
Philip E
PE
Shi
Chen
C
Wilson
James S
JS
Keller
Amy
A
Kroll
Martin H
MH
D015119:Aminocaproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011517:Prothrombin Time
D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D007611:Aprotinin; D015119:Aminocaproic Acid