The prophylactic use of fibrinogen concentrate in high-risk cardiac surgery.

Background: Perioperative blood loss is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. Plasma fibrinogen levels play an essential role in hemostasis and deplete quickly during hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to determine whether prophylactic fibrinogen concentrate administration lowers overall blood product transfusion requirements in high-risk cardiac surgery in patients with low fibrinogen plasma levels.

Endocarditis is not an Independent Predictor of Blood Transfusion in Aortic Valve Replacement Patients With Severe Aortic Regurgitation.

Objective: This study sought to evaluate if the presence of endocarditis was independently associated with increased perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing aortic valve replacements (AVR) with aortic regurgitation.

Design: This was a retrospective study.

Setting: Large Canadian tertiary care hospital.