Background: Rotational elastometry (ROTEM) has been shown useful to monitor coagulation in trauma patients and in major elective surgery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the utility of ROTEM to identify hemostatic disturbances and to predict the need for transfusion, compared with standard coagulation tests (SCTs) in patients undergoing emergent neurosurgery.
Methods: Over a four-year period, adult patients who met criteria for emergent neurosurgery lasting more than 90 min were included in the study. Blood was collected preoperatively and analyzed with SCTs (international normalized ratio [INR], fibrinogen concentration, prothrombin time [PT or Quick], partial thromboplastine time [PTT], fibrinogen concentration and platelet count), and ROTEM assays. Correlations between SCTs and ROTEM parameters as well as receiver operating characteristic curves were performed to detect a coagulopathic pattern based on standard criteria and the need for transfusing at least 3 units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs).
Results: In a cohort of 92 patients, 39 (42%) required ≥3 PRBCs and a coagulopathic pattern was identified in 32 patients based on SCTs and in 19 based on ROTEM. There was a strong correlation between PTT and INTEM coagulation time (R = 0.76) as well as between fibrinogen concentrations and FIBTEM maximal clot firmess (R = 0.70). The need for transfusion (≥ 3 PRBCs) was best predicted by the maximal clot firmess of EXTEM and FIBTEM (AUC of 0.72 and 0.71, respectively) and by fibrinogen concentration (AUC of 0.70).
Conclusions: In patients undergoing emergent neurosurgery, ROTEM analysis provides valid markers of early coagulopathy and predictors of blood transfusion requirements.
Keywords: Anesthesia; Bleeding; Brain injury; Transfusion; Trauma.