title: Preoperative Thromboelastometry as a Predictor of Transfusion Requirements during Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability to predict transfusion requirements may improve perioperative bleeding management as an integral part of a patient blood management program. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate preoperative thromboelastometry as a predictor of transfusion requirements for adult living donor liver transplant recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The correlation between preoperative thromboelastometry variables in 100 adult living donor liver transplant recipients and intraoperative blood transfusion requirements was examined by univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis. Thresholds of thromboelastometric parameters for prediction of packed red blood cells (PRBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets, and cryoprecipitate transfusion requirements were determined with receiver operating characteristics analysis. The attending anesthetists were blinded to the preoperative thromboelastometric analysis. However, a thromboelastometry-guided transfusion algorithm with predefined trigger values was used intraoperatively. The transfusion triggers in this algorithm did not change during the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Univariate analysis confirmed significant correlations between PRBCs, FFP, platelets or cryoprecipitate transfusion requirements and most thromboelastometric variables. Backward stepwise logistic regression indicated that EXTEM coagulation time (CT), maximum clot firmness (MCF) and INTEM CT, clot formation time (CFT) and MCF are independent predictors for PRBC transfusion. EXTEM CT, CFT and FIBTEM MCF are independent predictors for FFP transfusion. Only EXTEM and INTEM MCF were independent predictors of platelet transfusion. EXTEM CFT and MCF, INTEM CT, CFT and MCF as well as FIBTEM MCF are independent predictors for cryoprecipitate transfusion. Thromboelastometry-based regression equation accounted for 63% of PRBC, 83% of FFP, 61% of cryoprecipitate, and 44% of platelet transfusion requirements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative thromboelastometric analysis is helpful to predict transfusion requirements in adult living donor liver transplant recipients. This may allow for better preparation and less cross-matching prior to surgery. The findings of our study need to be re-validated in a second prospective patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebeen El Kom City, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nirmeen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Community Medicine and Statistics, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebeen El Kom City, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wessam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, National Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Shebeen El Kom City, Egypt.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yassen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany ; Tem International GmbH, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Görlinger
keywords: Adult living donor liver transplantation; Allogeneic blood transfusion; Blood coagulation; Point-of-care testing; Thromboelastometry