Utility of intraoperative rotational thromboelastometry in thoracolumbar deformity surgery

Does Patient Blood Management Affect Outcomes in Metastatic Spine Tumour Surgery? A Review of Current Concepts

STUDY DESIGN

Narrative review.

OBJECTIVE

The spine is the most common site of metastases, associated with decreased quality of life. Increase in metastatic spine tumour surgery (MSTS) has caused us to focus on the management of blood, as blood loss is a significant morbidity in these patients. However, blood transfusion is also not without its own risks, and hence this led to blood conservation strategies and implementation of a concept of patient blood management (PBM) in clinical practise focusing on these patients.

METHODS

A narrative review was conducted and all studies that were related to blood management in metastatic spine disease as well as PBM surrounding this condition were included.

RESULTS

A total of 64 studies were included in this review. We discussed a new concept of patient blood management in patients undergoing MSTS, with stratification to pre-operative and intra-operative factors, as well as anaesthesia and surgical considerations. The studies show that PBM and reduction in blood transfusion allows for reduced readmission rates, lower risks associated with blood transfusion, and lower morbidity for patients undergoing MSTS.

CONCLUSION

Through this review, we highlight various pre-operative and intra-operative methods in the surgical and anaesthesia domains that can help with PBM. It is an important concept with the significant amount of blood loss expected from MSTS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Not applicable.

Advances and Evolving Challenges in Spinal Deformity Surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical intervention is a critical tool to address adult spinal deformity (ASD). Given the evolution of spinal surgical techniques, we sought to characterize developments in ASD correction and barriers impacting clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review utilizing PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to examine advances in ASD surgical correction and ongoing challenges from patient and clinician perspectives. ASD procedures were examined across pre-, intra-, and post-operative phases.

RESULTS

Several factors influence the effectiveness of ASD correction. Standardized radiographic parameters and three-dimensional modeling have been used to guide operative planning. Complex minimally invasive procedures, targeted corrections, and staged procedures can tailor surgical approaches while minimizing operative time. Further, improvements in osteotomy technique, intraoperative navigation, and enhanced hardware have increased patient safety. However, challenges remain. Variability in patient selection and deformity undercorrection have resulted in heterogenous clinical responses. Surgical complications, including blood loss, infection, hardware failure, proximal junction kyphosis/failure, and pseudarthroses, pose barriers. Although minimally invasive approaches are being utilized more often, clinical validation is needed.

CONCLUSIONS

The growing prevalence of ASD requires surgical solutions that can lead to sustained symptom resolution. Leveraging computational and imaging advances will be necessary as we seek to provide comprehensive treatment plans for patients.

Rotational Thromboelastometry Predicts Transfusion Requirements in Total Joint Arthroplasties

The frequency of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions is high in total joint arthroplasties, and the hemorrhagic risk is associated with both surgery- and patient-related factors. This study aims to assess the ability of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to identify patients at high risk for transfusion and excessive bleeding. A prospective observational study was conducted including 206 patients who underwent total knee or hip arthroplasties. Assessment of the coagulation status was performed preoperatively and immediately postoperatively using ROTEM analysis and conventional coagulation tests. The number of RBC transfusions and the postoperative hemoglobin drop were recorded. ROTEM findings were compared between transfused and nontransfused patients, and also between patients with and without excessive bleeding. Higher values of postoperative FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF) were associated with lower risks of transfusion (odds ration [OR]: 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.78, p<0.001) and excessive bleeding (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36-0.94, p=0.028). A postoperative FIBTEM MCF value ≤10mm had 80.1% (95% CI: 73.1-85.9%) sensitivity with 75.5% (95% CI: 60.4-87.1%) specificity to predict transfusion requirements, and 70.5% (95% CI: 63.6-76.8%) sensitivity with 88.8% (95% CI: 51.7-99.7%) specificity to predict excessive bleeding. The estimated average probability of transfusion in patients with FIBTEM MCF values of 0 to 4mm is 86.3%. ROTEM assay demonstrated high predictive ability for transfusion and excessive bleeding. Identification of patients at risk for transfusion could allow blood banks to ensure adequate blood supply, while also more intense blood-salvaging strategies could be implemented in these patients.

Is ROTEM Diagnostic in Trauma Care Associated with Lower Mortality Rates in Bleeding Patients?—A Retrospective Analysis of 7461 Patients Derived from the TraumaRegister DGU®

Introduction: Death from uncontrolled trauma haemorrhage and subsequent trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is potentially preventable. Point-of-care devices such as rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM^®) are advocated to detect haemostatic derangements more rapidly than conventional laboratory diagnostics. Regarding reductions in RBC transfusion, the use of ROTEM has been described as being efficient and associated with positive outcomes in several studies. Objective: The effect of ROTEM use was assessed on three different outcome variables: (i) administration of haemostatics, (ii) rate of RBC transfusions and (iii) mortality in severely injured patients. Methods and Material: A retrospective analysis of a large data set of severely injured patients collected into the TraumaRegister DGU^® between 2009 and 2016 was conducted. The data of 7461 patients corresponded to the inclusion criteria and were subdivided into ROTEM-using and ROTEM-non-using groups. Both groups were analysed regarding (i) administration of haemostatics, (ii) rate of RBC transfusions and (iii) mortality. Results: A lower mortality rate in ROTEM-using groups was observed (p = 0.043). Furthermore, more patients received haemostatic medication when ROTEM was used. In ROTEM-using groups, there was a statistically relevant higher application of massive transfusion. Conclusions: In this retrospective study, the use of ROTEM was associated with reduced mortality and an increased application of haemostatics and RBC transfusions. Prospective evidence is needed for further evidence-based recommendations.

Perioperative management in complex spine surgery: a narrative review

The last two decades have seen a significant increase in the number of spine surgical procedures performed worldwide. This type of surgery includes a wide variety of procedures, from mini-invasive discectomies to multi-level spinal arthrodesis and osteotomies. Moreover, different surgical approaches are described at different spine levels: the anesthesiologist should be aware of the potential benefits and risks for the patients and be prepared for their management. In this narrative review we seek to describe basic concepts of perioperative spine care and address evolving areas in which care is changing. We will discuss preoperative concerns, intraoperative management including airway management, choice of maintenance, intraoperative neuromonitoring and anesthetic effect, blood management and the dynamic topic of anesthetic and analgesic techniques. Finally, we will briefly address the issue of perioperative complications as they relate specifically to spine surgery.

Significant Variation in Blood Transfusion Practice Persists Following Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case control study.

OBJECTIVE

To review current transfusion practise following Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) surgery and assess risks of complication from transfusion in this cohort.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

No study to date has investigated variation in blood transfusion practices across surgeons and hospitals following AIS surgery.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. Using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9) all patients with (ICD-9) code for AIS (737.30) ("idiopathic scoliosis") and underwent spinal fusion between 2000 and 2015 were included. Bivariate and mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were performed to assess patient, surgeon, and hospital factors associated with perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion. Additional multivariable analyses examined the association between transfusion and infectious complications.

RESULTS

Of the 7689 patients who underwent AIS surgery, 21.1% received a perioperative blood transfusion. After controlling for patient factors, wide variation in risk-adjusted transfusion rates was present with a 10-fold difference in transfusion rates observed across surgeons (4.4%-46.1%) and hospitals (5.1%-50%). Patient factors did not explain any of the surgeon or hospital variation. Use of autologous blood transfusion, higher surgeon procedure volume, and greater surgeon years in practice were independently associated with lower odds of allogeneic blood transfusion (P < 0.001), and surgeon and hospital characteristics explained 45% of surgeon variation but only 2.4% of hospital variation. Allogeneic blood transfusion was independently associated with postoperative wound infection (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.20-2.93), pneumonia (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.26-2.44), and sepsis (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.11-5.83).

CONCLUSION

Significant variation exists across both surgeons and hospitals in perioperative blood transfusion utilization following AIS surgery. Use of autologous blood transfusion and implementing institutional transfusion protocols may reduce unwarranted variation and potentially decrease infectious complication rates.Level of Evidence: 3.

Pathway for enhanced recovery after spinal surgery-a systematic review of evidence for use of individual components

Background

Enhanced recovery in spinal surgery (ERSS) has shown promising improvements in clinical and economical outcomes. We have proposed an ERSS pathway based on available evidence. We aimed to delineate the clinical efficacy of individual pathway components in ERSS through a systematic narrative review.

Methods

We included systematic reviews and meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled studies, and observational studies in adults and pediatric patients evaluating any one of the 22 pre-defined components. Our primary outcomes included all-cause mortality, morbidity outcomes (e.g., pulmonary, cardiac, renal, surgical complications), patient-reported outcomes and experiences (e.g., pain, quality of care experience), and health services outcomes (e.g., length of stay and costs). Following databases (1990 onwards) were searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and CENTRAL). Two authors screened the citations, full-text articles, and extracted data. A narrative synthesis was provided. We constructed Evidence Profile (EP) tables for each component of the pathway, where appropriate information was available. Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, we did not conduct a meta-analyses. GRADE system was used to classify confidence in cumulative evidence for each component of the pathway.

Results

We identified 5423 relevant studies excluding duplicates as relating to the 22 pre-defined components of enhanced recovery in spinal surgery. We included 664 studies in the systematic review. We identified specific evidence within the context of spinal surgery for 14/22 proposed components. Evidence was summarized in EP tables where suitable. We performed thematic synthesis without EP for 6/22 elements. We identified appropriate societal guidelines for the remainder of the components.

Conclusions

We identified the following components with high quality of evidence as per GRADE system: pre-emptive analgesia, peri-operative blood conservation (antifibrinolytic use), surgical site preparation and antibiotic prophylaxis. There was moderate level of evidence for implementation of prehabilitation, minimally invasive surgery, multimodal perioperative analgesia, intravenous lignocaine and ketamine use as well as early mobilization. This review allows for the first formalized evidence-based unified protocol in the field of ERSS.

Further studies validating the multimodal ERSS framework are essential to guide the future evolution of care in patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-021-01281-1.

Rotational thromboelastometry-guided transfusion during lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy for adult spinal deformity: preliminary findings from a matched cohort study

OBJECTIVESignificant blood loss and coagulopathy are often encountered during adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, and the optimal intraoperative transfusion algorithm is debatable. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), a functional viscoelastometric method for real-time hemostasis testing, may allow early identification of coagulopathy and improve transfusion practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ROTEM-guided blood product management on perioperative blood loss and transfusion requirements in ASD patients undergoing correction with pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO).METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed patients with ASD who underwent single-level lumbar PSO at the University of Virginia Health System. All patients who received ROTEM-guided blood product transfusion between 2015 and 2017 were matched in a 1:1 ratio to a historical cohort treated using conventional laboratory testing (control group). Co-primary outcomes were intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL) and total blood product transfusion volume. Secondary outcomes were perioperative transfusion requirements and postoperative subfascial drain output.RESULTSThe matched groups (ROTEM and control) comprised 17 patients each. Comparison of matched group baseline characteristics demonstrated differences in female sex and total intraoperative dose of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA). Although EBL was comparable between ROTEM versus control (3200.00 ± 2106.24 ml vs 3874.12 ± 2224.22 ml, p = 0.36), there was a small to medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.31) on EBL reduction with ROTEM. The ROTEM group had less total blood product transfusion volume (1624.18 ± 1774.79 ml vs 2810.88 ± 1847.46 ml, p = 0.02), and the effect size was medium to large (Cohen's d = 0.66). This difference was no longer significant after adjusting for TXA (β = -0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1995.78 to 671.64, p = 0.32). More cryoprecipitate and less fresh frozen plasma (FFP) were transfused in the ROTEM group patients (cryoprecipitate units: 1.24 ± 1.20 vs 0.53 ± 1.01, p = 0.03; FFP volume: 119.76 ± 230.82 ml vs 673.06 ± 627.08 ml, p < 0.01), and this remained significant after adjusting for TXA (cryoprecipitate units: β = 0.39, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.73, p = 0.04; FFP volume: β = -0.41, 95% CI -772.55 to -76.30, p = 0.02). Drain output was lower in the ROTEM group and remained significant after adjusting for TXA.CONCLUSIONSFor ASD patients treated using lumbar PSO, more cryoprecipitate and less FFP were transfused in the ROTEM group compared to the control group. These preliminary findings suggest ROTEM-guided therapy may allow early identification of hypofibrinogenemia, and aggressive management of this may reduce blood loss and total blood product transfusion volume. Additional prospective studies of larger cohorts are warranted to identify the appropriate subset of ASD patients who may benefit from intraoperative ROTEM analysis.

Usefulness of perioperative rotational thrombelastometry during scoliosis surgery in children

OBJECTIVE

Surgical correction of scoliosis in pediatric patients is associated with significant blood loss. Rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM) might help to decrease the use of blood transfusion products by enabling an early point of care (POC) diagnosis of coagulopathy, thus helping to provide targeted therapy. The aim of this case-control study was to find out whether POC use of ROTEM during scoliosis surgery in children helps to reduce the need for blood transfusion products.

METHODS

Data were prospectively analyzed from all patients treated during 2016-2018 who received ROTEM-based therapy during scoliosis surgery. These patients were compared with a group of historical controls treated during 2014-2016 whose scoliosis treatment did not include ROTEM. Perioperative blood loss, consumption of blood transfusion products, and hospital LOS were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 37 patients were analyzed, 22 patients in the non-ROTEM group and 15 patients in the ROTEM group. In the ROTEM group compared with the non-ROTEM group, there was significantly lower perioperative blood loss and administration of packed red blood cell units, no administration of fresh-frozen plasma, and shorter overall hospital LOS (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

ROTEM use during scoliosis surgery in children seems to help to decrease blood loss and the use of blood transfusion products and may also shorten the hospital LOS.Clinical trial registration no.: NCT03699813 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Minimizing Blood Loss in Spine Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Broad narrative review.

OBJECTIVE

To review and summarize the current literature on guidelines, outcomes, techniques and indications surrounding multiple modalities of minimizing blood loss in spine surgery.

METHODS

A thorough review of peer-reviewed literature was performed on the guidelines, outcomes, techniques, and indications for multiple modalities of minimizing blood loss in spine surgery.

RESULTS

There is a large body of literature that provides a consensus on guidelines regarding the appropriate timing of discontinuation of anticoagulation, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and herbal supplements prior to surgery. Additionally, there is a more heterogenous discussion the utility of preoperative autologous blood donation facilitated by erythropoietin and iron supplementation for healthy patients slated for procedures with high anticipated blood loss and for whom allogeneic transfusion is likely. Intraoperative maneuvers available to minimize blood loss include positioning and maintaining normothermia. Tranexamic acid (TXA), bipolar sealer electrocautery, and topical hemostatic agents, and hypotensive anesthesia (mean arterial pressure (MAP) <65 mm Hg) should be strongly considered in cases with larger exposures and higher anticipated blood loss. There is strong level 1 evidence for the use of TXA in spine surgery as it reduces the overall blood loss and transfusion requirements.

CONCLUSION

As the volume and complexity of spinal procedures rise, intraoperative blood loss management has become a pivotal topic of research within the field. There are many tools for minimizing blood loss in patients undergoing spine surgery. The current literature supports combining techniques to use a cost- effective multimodal approach to minimize blood loss in the perioperative period.

Analysis of an overlapping surgery policy change on costs in a high-volume neurosurgical department

OBJECTIVE

Overlapping surgery remains a controversial topic in the medical community. Although numerous studies have examined the safety profile of overlapping operations, there are few data on its financial impact. The authors assessed direct hospital costs associated with neurosurgical operations during periods before and after a more stringent overlapping surgery policy was implemented.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of nonemergency neurosurgical operations that took place during the periods from June 1, 2014, to October 31, 2014 (pre–policy change), and from June 1, 2016, to October 31, 2016 (post–policy change), by any of the 4 senior neurosurgeons authorized to perform overlapping cases during both periods. Cost data as well as demographic, surgical, and hospitalization-related variables were obtained from an institutional tool, the Value-Driven Outcomes database.

RESULTS

A total of 625 hospitalizations met inclusion criteria for cost analysis; of these, 362 occurred prior to the policy change and 263 occurred after the change. All costs were reported as a proportion of the average total hospitalization cost for the entire cohort. There was no significant difference in mean total hospital costs between the prechange and postchange period (0.994 ± 1.237 vs 1.009 ± 0.994, p = 0.873). On multivariate linear regression analysis, neither the policy change (p = 0.582) nor the use of overlapping surgery (p = 0.273) was significantly associated with higher total hospital costs.

CONCLUSIONS

A more restrictive overlapping surgery policy was not associated with a reduction in the direct costs of hospitalization for neurosurgical procedures.

The role of evidence-based algorithms for rotational thromboelastometry-guided bleeding management

Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is a point-of-care viscoelastic method and enables to assess viscoelastic profiles of whole blood in various clinical settings. ROTEM-guided bleeding management has become an essential part of patient blood management (PBM) which is an important concept in improving patient safety. Here, ROTEM testing and hemostatic interventions should be linked by evidence-based, setting-specific algorithms adapted to the specific patient population of the hospitals and the local availability of hemostatic interventions. Accordingly, ROTEM-guided algorithms implement the concept of personalized or precision medicine in perioperative bleeding management (‘theranostic’ approach). ROTEM-guided PBM has been shown to be effective in reducing bleeding, transfusion requirements, complication rates, and health care costs. Accordingly, several randomized-controlled trials, meta-analyses, and health technology assessments provided evidence that using ROTEM-guided algorithms in bleeding patients resulted in improved patient’s safety and outcomes including perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, the implementation of ROTEM in the PBM concept requires adequate technical and interpretation training, education and logistics, as well as interdisciplinary communication and collaboration.

Utility of topical tranexamic acid for adult patients with spinal deformity and contraindications to systemic tranexamic acid: initial experience and report of 2 cases

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent with demonstrated efficacy in reducing blood loss when administered systemically. However, in patients with contraindications to systemic or intravenous TXA, topical TXA (tTXA) has been shown to reduce perioperative blood loss, with some studies suggesting equivalence compared to systemic TXA. However, these studies have been conducted in healthy cohorts without contraindications to systemic TXA. In the surgical management of adult spinal deformity (ASD), comorbid disease is commonly encountered and may preclude use of systemic TXA. In this subset of patients with ASD who have contraindications for systemic TXA, use of tTXA has not been reported.The primary objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review on the use of tTXA in spine surgery and to present the authors' initial experience with tTXA as a novel hemostatic technique for 2 patients with medically complex ASD. Both patients had contraindications to systemic TXA use and underwent high-risk, long-segment fusion operations for correction of ASD. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to obtain studies related to spine surgery and tTXA from the National Institutes of Health PubMed (www.pubmed.gov) database. Criteria for final selection included a demonstration of quantitative data regarding operative or postoperative blood loss with the use of tTXA, and selection criteria were met by 6 articles.Topical TXA may offer a potential therapeutic role in reducing intra- and postoperative blood loss following long-segment spinal fusion surgeries, particularly for medically complex patients with contraindications to systemic TXA. It is reasonable to consider the use of tTXA as a salvage technique in complex high-risk patients with contraindications to systemic TXA, although further research is needed to delineate safety, magnitude of benefit, and optimization of dosing.