TY - JOUR
T1 - Coagulopathy and hyperfibrinolysis in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
AU - Adam, Donald
AU - Haggart, PC
AU - Ludlam, CA
AU - Bradbury, Andrew
PY - 2004/1/1
Y1 - 2004/1/1
N2 - Perioperative hemorrhage is one of the principal causes of death in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This study examines perioperative coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients undergoing ruptured AAA repair complicated by coagulopathy. Eight patients (8 men of median age 74, range 69-87, years) who developed clinical and laboratory evidence of coagulopathy during attempted repair of ruptured infrarenal AAA were prospectively studied. Platelet count, fibrinogen, clotting times, prothrombin fragment (PF) 1+2, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activities were measured preoperatively, immediately before, and 5 min and 24 hr after aortic declamping. Six patients died, three intraoperatively, one within 24 hr, and two in the late postoperative period. All patients had thrombocytopenia and prolonged clotting times intraoperatively with evidence of increased thrombin generation (as demonstrated by elevated PF 1+2). Five patients had increased systemic fibrinolysis (as demonstrated by elevated t-PA activity) preoperatively and/or before aortic declamping and all of these patients died. Three patients had perioperative inhibition of systemic fibrinolysis (as demonstrated by elevated PAI activity) and two survived. These data demonstrate that coagulopathy in ruptured AAA repair may be associated with a hyperfibrinolytic state. Further research is required to determine if (a) a causal relationship exists between hyperfibrinolysis and coagulopathy and (b) whether antifibrinolytic agents can improve outcome if targeted at this group of patients.
AB - Perioperative hemorrhage is one of the principal causes of death in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This study examines perioperative coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients undergoing ruptured AAA repair complicated by coagulopathy. Eight patients (8 men of median age 74, range 69-87, years) who developed clinical and laboratory evidence of coagulopathy during attempted repair of ruptured infrarenal AAA were prospectively studied. Platelet count, fibrinogen, clotting times, prothrombin fragment (PF) 1+2, and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activities were measured preoperatively, immediately before, and 5 min and 24 hr after aortic declamping. Six patients died, three intraoperatively, one within 24 hr, and two in the late postoperative period. All patients had thrombocytopenia and prolonged clotting times intraoperatively with evidence of increased thrombin generation (as demonstrated by elevated PF 1+2). Five patients had increased systemic fibrinolysis (as demonstrated by elevated t-PA activity) preoperatively and/or before aortic declamping and all of these patients died. Three patients had perioperative inhibition of systemic fibrinolysis (as demonstrated by elevated PAI activity) and two survived. These data demonstrate that coagulopathy in ruptured AAA repair may be associated with a hyperfibrinolytic state. Further research is required to determine if (a) a causal relationship exists between hyperfibrinolysis and coagulopathy and (b) whether antifibrinolytic agents can improve outcome if targeted at this group of patients.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4544238098&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10016-004-0087-5
DO - 10.1007/s10016-004-0087-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 15534737
SN - 1615-5947
VL - 18
SP - 572
EP - 577
JO - Annals of Vascular Surgery
JF - Annals of Vascular Surgery
ER -