Pruthi, Rajiv K.

IntroductionHaemostatic assessments of patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) have mainly relied on subjective parameters.AimsTo compare objective haemostatic outcomes of TKA/THA in VWD patients and controls without bleeding disorders.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed haemostatic outcomes in VWD patients undergoing TKA/THA from 1993 to 2011 and compared them with two matched controls per operation. Using one‐way analysis of variance, we tested the effect of VWD on bleeding risk after TKA and THA.ResultsTwelve VWD patients (6 type 1, 3 type 2M, 1 each of types 2A/2B/3) undergoing 19 operations (12 TKA, 7 THA) were matched to 38 controls. One (5%) of 19 operations in VWD patients and none of the control operations met clinical criteria for major bleeding. Baseline and postoperative day 1 haemoglobin levels, postoperative blood loss, transfused red blood cells (RBCs) and mean hospitalization days were not significantly different. More VWD patients than controls received RBC transfusions [12 (63%) vs. 12 (32%)]. Only 9 (47%) VWD patients vs. 38 (100%) controls received pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis. No postoperative symptomatic VTE occurred in either group.ConclusionIn this largest, single‐institutional study, von Willebrand factor replacement based on daily levels resulted in low frequency of major bleeding in VWD patients after TKA/THA. RBC transfusion was more frequent compared with matched controls, but other objective measures of haemostasis were similar. Lack of sufficient details in published reports precluded comparison of haemostatic outcomes.

Purpose: To present a rare case of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and its novel treatment. Case Report: A 55-year-old man presented with DIC 10 months after TEVAR for chronic type B aortic dissection and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm. He had persistent retrograde flow in the false lumen with a stable aneurysm diameter. The false lumen was embolized with multiple Amplatzer plugs, which promoted false lumen thrombosis. Laboratory evaluation on postoperative day 7 demonstrated resolution of the coagulopathy. Follow-up at 18 months revealed no recurrent DIC; computed tomography angiography showed a stable aortic diameter and excluded thoracic aneurysm sac. Conclusion: This case demonstrates an unusual, potentially fatal postoperative complication of endovascular treatment of type B aortic dissections successfully treated with an innovative endovascular solution.

Abstract BACKGROUND Anticoagulation protocols used during mechanical circulatory support call for titration of antiplatelet agents. We compared the precision and reliability of 5 platelet function tests in healthy volunteers and donors on daily antiplatelet therapy to distinguish their efficacy for titrating antiplatelet therapy. METHODS We assessed arachidonic acid–induced platelet function by light transmission aggregometry (LTA), Multiplate impedance aggregometry, VerifyNow, and platelet mapping by thromboelastography (TEG PM). We assessed ADP-induced platelet function by the same methods and flow cytometry. Forty healthy volunteers and 10–13 volunteers on daily aspirin and/or clopidogrel therapy were evaluated. We compared tests for intraassay precision, interassay precision (samples from 2 separate blood draws), and reliability coefficient. RESULTS For arachidonic acid–induced platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers, intra- and interassay CVs were ≤10% for all methods. Intra- and interassay precision among donors on daily aspirin was ≤30% for all methods except LTA (38% interassay CV) and TEG PM (95% intraassay and 104% interassay CV). For ADP-induced platelet function, intra- and interassay precision was ≤10% and ≤30% for all methods. Only Multiplate demonstrated moderate or greater (R > 0.40) reliability coefficients for arachidonic acid–induced platelet function among all subjects. All methods of ADP-induced platelet function, except TEG PM, demonstrated substantial or greater (R > 0.60) reliability among all subjects. CONCLUSIONS TEG PM is least suited to monitor effects of antiplatelet agents. Multiplate impedance aggregometry was the only method to demonstrate an acceptable reliability coefficient among healthy volunteers and donors on both aspirin and clopidogrel therapy.