Thrombocytopenia Associated with Unrecognized Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is an Independent Predictor of Perioperative Significant Blood Loss in Cervical Laminoplasty.

Objective: To identify risk factors for significant blood loss (SBL) in cervical laminoplasty, especially regarding thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy resulting from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We retrospectively investigated differences in patient background data, laboratory data at the time of admission, and surgery-related data of 317 patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty and were divided into SBL (estimated blood loss [EBL] + drainage [D] ≥500 g) and non-SBL (EBL + D < 500 g) groups. To evaluate liver status, we used the fibrous 4 index and considered fibrous 4 index ≥1.85 as a representative phenotype for NAFLD with liver fibrosis. In addition, the risk factor for perioperative SBL was investigated using multiple logistic regression analysis, and the cutoff value was calculated.

Results: Incidence of perioperative SBL in cervical laminoplasty was 7.3% (23/317). Compared with the non-SBL group, the SBL group demonstrated significantly lower platelet count (PLT), lower aspartate aminotransferase, longer operation time, and greater number of opened laminae. According to multivariate analysis, lower PLT and a greater number of opened laminae were identified as significant risk factors for perioperative SBL. The cutoff value of PLT for predicting SBL was determined to be 16.7 × 10/μL using a receiver operating characteristic curve. The liver fibrosis group revealed significantly lower PLT and greater EBL + D than the non-liver fibrosis group.

Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia is an independent predictor of perioperative SBL in cervical laminoplasty. Thus, patients with mild thrombocytopenia that may be associated with NAFLD must be carefully monitored to avoid perioperative SBL.