Point-of-care platelet function testing to predict blood loss after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a prospective observational pilot study.

Aim:With an increase in the number of patients who are on antiplatelet medications until the day of surgery, we undertook a prospective observational study to assess the ability of thromboelastography, thromboelastography platelet mapping and aggregometry via multiplate to detect platelet dysfunction and predict blood loss following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.Methods:Platelet function was evaluated pre- and post-cardiopulmonary bypass via thromboelastography, thromboelastography platelet mapping and aggregometry via multiplate in 52 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The median chest tube drainage of all patients in the study was ascertained to stratify patients into two groups: patients with and those without evidence of excessive blood loss after cardiac surgery.Results:Although all modalities could detect a decrease in platelet function following cardiopulmonary bypass, univariate and multivariate regression analysis identified preoperative arachidonic acid...