Investigation of acquired dysfibrinogenaemia in adult patients with sepsis using fibrinogen function vs. concentration ratios: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Inherited or acquired molecular abnormalities form a clinically heterogeneous group of fibrinogen disorders called dysfibrinogenaemia. Apart from a pediatric case report and in contrast to other clinical conditions, acquired dysfibrinogenaemia has not been previously reported in septic patients.

Methods: In an observational cohort study, 79 adult septic patients were investigated for the presence of acquired dysfibrinogenaemia at the time of their admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Hospital Frankfurt.

New Insights in the Occurrence of Venous Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19-A Large Postmortem and Clinical Analysis.

Critically ill COVID-19 patients are at high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), namely deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE), and death. The optimal anticoagulation strategy in critically ill patients with COVID-19 remains unknown. This study investigated the ante mortem incidence as well as postmortem prevalence of VTE, the factors predictive of VTE, and the impact of changed anticoagulation practice on patient survival.

The Pre- and Postoperative Prevalence and Risk Factors of ASA Nonresponse in Vascular Surgery.

Background: An antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is prescribed in the prevention of cardiovascular events, but around 24% of ASA takers are resistant to the treatment.

Aim: In this prospective, observational cohort study, we aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of ASA nonresponse in patients who underwent vascular surgery.

Methods: The study was conducted in the University hospital in Frankfurt am Main.

The effect of the interruption of agitation, temporary cooling, and pneumatic tube transportation on platelet quality during storage for transfusion.

Background: Conditions during blood product storage and transportation should maintain quality. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of interruption of agitation, temporary cooling (TC), and pneumatic tube system transportation (PTST) on the aggregation ability (AA) and mitochondrial function (MF) of platelet concentrates (PC).

Study Design And Methods: A PC was divided equally into four subunits and then allocated to four test groups.

Mechanical ventilation and mortality among 223 critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A multicentric study in Germany.

Background: There are large uncertainties with regard to the outcome of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and mechanical ventilation (MV). High mortality (50-97%) was proposed by some groups, leading to considerable uncertainties with regard to outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19 requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission and MV.

Prospective Evaluation of the Pre-, Intra-, and Postoperative Kinetics of ADAMTS-13, von Willebrand Factor, and Interleukin-6 in Vascular Surgery.

Postoperative thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) shows clinical presentation similar to classical TTP, whereas exact pathophysiological contexts remain unexplained. In this study, we investigated intraoperative and postoperative changes in ADAMTS-13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs, member 13), von Willebrand factor (VWF), large VWF multimers, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vascular surgery patients. The objective was to compare the impact of endovascular, peripheral, and aortic surgery on target parameters which are supposed to play a role in surgery-associated TTP.

Assessment of hemostatic profile in patients with mild to advanced liver cirrhosis.

Background: Hemostasis of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis is challenging due to both, pro- and anticoagulatory disorders leading to hemostatic alterations with distinct abnormalities of coagulation. Pathological changes in conventional coagulation analysis and platelet count are common manifestations of decreased liver synthesis of coagulation factors and reduced platelet count in these patients. However, conventional coagulation analysis and platelet count do not reflect in-vivo coagulation status or platelet function.

[Point of Care 2.0: Coagulation Monitoring Using Rotem® Sigma and Teg® 6S].

New-generation methods for point of care based coagulation monitoring enable fully automated viscoelastic analyses for the assessment of particular parts of hemostasis. Contrary to the measuring techniques of former models, the viscoelastic ROTEM sigma and TEG 6s analyses are performed in single-use test cartridges without time- and personnel-intensive pre-analytical procedures. This review highlights methodical strengths and limitations of the devices and meets concerns associated with their integration in routine clinical practice.

Laryngeal tube suction for airway management during in-hospital emergencies.

Objective:: The role of supraglottic airway devices in emergency airway management is highlighted in international airway management guidelines. We evaluated the application of the new generation laryngeal tube suction (LTS-II/LTS-D) in the management of in-hospital unexpected difficult airway and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Methods:: During a seven-year period, patients treated with a laryngeal tube who received routine anesthesia and had an unexpected difficult airway (Cormack Lehane Grade 3-4), who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation outside the operating room and had a difficult airway were evaluated.

Microparticles from stored red blood cells enhance procoagulant and proinflammatory activity.

Background: The pathomechanisms of morbidity due to blood transfusions are not yet entirely understood. Elevated levels of red blood cell-derived microparticles (RMPs) are found in coagulation-related pathologies and also in stored blood. Previous research has shown that RMPs mediate transfusion-related complications by the intrinsic pathway.

The Prevalence and Clinical Relevance of ASA Nonresponse After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Bicentric Study.

We aimed to identify the prevalence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) nonresponse in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and the possible consequences for the rate of major cardiovascular events. This prospective, observational, bicentric cohort study was conducted in two German University hospitals. A total of 400 patients (200 in each study center) undergoing elective CABG surgery were enrolled after written informed consent.

Patient Blood Management Bundles to Facilitate Implementation.

More than 30% of the world's population are anemic with serious economic consequences including reduced work capacity and other obstacles to national welfare and development. Red blood cell transfusion is the mainstay to correct anemia, but it is also 1 of the top 5 overused procedures. Patient blood management (PBM) is a proactive, patient-centered, and multidisciplinary approach to manage anemia, optimize hemostasis, minimize iatrogenic blood loss, and harness tolerance to anemia.

Coagulation management in trauma-associated coagulopathy: allogenic blood products versus coagulation factor concentrates in trauma care.

Purpose Of Review: Coagulation management by transfusion of allogenic blood products and coagulation factors are competing concepts in current trauma care.

Recent Findings: Rapid and adequate therapy of trauma-associated coagulopathy is crucial to survival of severely injured patients. Standard coagulation tests such as prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time are commonly used, but these tests are inappropriate for monitoring and guiding therapy in trauma patients.

Antifactor Xa Activity for the Management of Anticoagulation during Cardiac Surgery.

Background In patients with autoimmune diseases associated with antiphospholipid antibodies, precise management of anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is complicated. It was the aim of the present study to determine whether antifactor Xa (aXa) activity is useful in guiding heparin therapy during ECC. Methods In 15 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (UFH) and its reversal with protamine were guided using activated clotting time (ACT) (>400 second during ECC; ≤100 second for UFH reversal).

[Coagulation factor XIII – Pathophysiology, clinic and therapy of factor XIII deficiency].

The complex activity of the transglutaminase factor XIII (FXIII) comprises central functions in secondary hemostasis. Congenital or acquired FXIII deficiencies may be associated with habitual abortions, impaired wound healing, coagulopathy and fatal hemorrhage. The present review describes physiological functions of FXIII, as well as pathophysiology, diagnostic and therapeutic options of FXIII deficiencies.

Assessment of hemostatic changes after initiation of continuous venovenous hemodialysis.

Background: Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a standard therapy in critically ill patients suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI). Extracorporeal circulation and exposure to foreign surfaces during CRRT may induce disturbances in hemostasis, particularly in platelet function. The present study described the hemostatic changes associated with CRRT and aimed to identify the independent predictors of premature clotting of the circuit.

Hematologic Effects of Heart Valve Prostheses and Vascular Grafts after Aortic Root Replacement.

Background: Heart valve prosthesis as well as vascular grafts cause changes in blood parameters. This may correlate with valve-related complications, less frequently observed after repair surgery. We thus studied changes in rheology after Bentall, Ross, or Tirone David (TD) procedure.

Response to dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease suffering from critical limb ischemia.

Background: Failure to reach the level of therapeutic anticoagulation represents a risk factor for occlusive events in patients suffering from peripheral arterial disease. Our study aimed to analyze the prevalence of nonresponse to dual antiplatelet therapy in a group of patients admitted to our hospital with critical limb ischemia (CLI) following stent-thrombosis.

Methods: This prospective study was approved by the local Ethics Review Board.

Aggregometric assessment of clonidine's impact on the efficacy of dual platelet inhibition.

Background: Clonidine is commonly used as a calmative and antihypertensive agent in perioperative care. Due to the drug's alpha-2-agonistic effects, it has recently been hypothesised that clonidine may affect platelet aggregability. The present investigation aimed to study the potential impact of clonidine on the efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy.

Multiple electrode aggregometry for the assessment of acquired platelet dysfunctions during extracorporeal circulation.

Background: There have been many reports on how the usage of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is independently associated with the induction of platelet dysfunctions. The aim of the present investigation was to study the capability of the multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) using the Multiplate (Roche AG, Grenzach, Germany) device to reflect the extent of ECC-associated platelet dysfunctions.

Patients And Methods: The study population consisted of patients who were treated with either hypothermic (cardiopulmonary bypass [CPB]) or normothermic (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) ECC.

Hemotherapy algorithms for coagulopathic cardiac surgery patients.

In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, perioperative coagulopathy and the use of allogenic blood products are independently associated with increased mortality and major perioperative cardiac and non-cardiac adverse events. Hemotherapy should be based on specific hemotherapy algorithms rather than "clinical judgments". However, whether hemotherapy should be based on "classical" conventional laboratory coagulation analyses or Point-of-Care (POC) measures is discussed controversially.

[Hemorrhage after accidental overdosage of enoxaparin: monitoring and therapy].

At the morning of the sixth postoperative day after a complex cardiac surgery procedure, a patient accidentally received a subcutaneous injection of 450 mg Enoxaparin sodium (Clexane®, Sanofi GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany). A few hours later an excessive coagulopathy developed and necessitated the transfusion of allogenic blood products. The present case report describes and discusses our diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Safety and effectiveness of a Patient Blood Management (PBM) program in surgical patients--the study design for a multi-centre prospective epidemiologic non-inferiority trial.

Background: Preoperative and hospital-acquired anaemia is common among surgical patients. It is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality and a strong risk factor for allogeneic blood transfusions with their own inherent risks. Patient Blood Management (PBM) concepts aim to increase and preserve autologous erythrocyte volume and to optimise haemotherapy.