Summary
Platelet dysfunction can be a major factor in excessive bleeding following cardiopulmonary
bypass (CBP). A rapid, specific and sensitive method to identify platelet dysfunction
would be a useful tool for identifying patients at an increased risk of bleeding.
The ability of PFA100™, an in vitro bleeding test, to predict increased bleeding risk linked to platelet dysfunction
was tested in 146 patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass graft. Blood
samples were taken the day before surgery, and 15 min and 5 h after heparin neutralization.
The preoperative closure times (CT), i. e. the time required for platelets in citrated
whole blood to occlude an aperture cut into a membrane coated with collagen plus either
epinephrine (CTEPI) or adenosine diphosphate (CTADP) were longer in blood-group-O
patients than in patients with other groups. The 15 min postoperative values were
significantly longer from preoperative values essentially owing to CBP-induced hemodilution.
Interestingly, 5 h after CBP, a significant reduction in CT values probably reflected
platelet hyperaggregability. No correlation was found between calculated blood loss
(CBL) and either preoperative or postoperative PFA values.
Key words
Platelet function - cardiopulmonary bypass - PFA100™ -
in vitro bleeding time