The clinical effects of tourniquet application were evaluated in 10 young men undergoing knee surgery. Our data indicate that tourniquet application causes hemodynamic and metabolic changes which may become clinically relevant after a long period of tourniquet inflation, particularly in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases.

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Background: Hemostasis is the dynamic equilibrium between coagulation and fibrinolysis. During pregnancy, the balance shifts toward a hypercoagulative state; however placental abruption and abnormal placentations may lead to rapidly evolving coagulopathy characterized by the increased activation of procoagulant pathways. These processes can result in hypofibrinogenemia, with fibrinogen levels dropping to 2 g/L or less and an associated increased risk of post-partum hemorrhage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the concordance between two methods of functional fibrinogen measurement: the Thromboelastography (TEG) method (also known as FLEV) vs. the Clauss method. Three patient groups were considered: healthy volunteers; non-pathological pregnant patients; and pregnant patients who went on to develop postpartum hemorrhage. Methods: A prospective observational study. Inclusion criteria were: healthy volunteer women of childbearing age, non-pathological pregnant women at term, and pregnant hemorrhagic patients subjected to elective or urgent caesarean section (CS), with blood loss exceeding 1000 mL. Exclusion criteria were age < 18 years, a history of coagulopathy, and treatment with contraceptives, anticoagulants, or antiplatelet agents. Results: Bland-Altman plots showed a significant overestimation with the FLEV method in all three patient groups: bias was − 133.36 mg/dL for healthy volunteers (95% IC: − 257.84; − 8.88. Critical difference: 124.48); − 56.30 mg/dL for healthy pregnant patients (95% IC: − 225.53; 112.93. Critical difference: 169.23); and − 159.05 mg/dL for hemorrhagic pregnant patients (95% IC: − 333.24; 15.148. Critical difference: 174.19). Regression analyses detected a linear correlation between FLEV and Clauss for healthy volunteers, healthy pregnant patients, and hemorrhagic pregnant patients (R 2 0.27, p value = 0.002; R 2 0.31, p value = 0.001; R 2 0.35, p value = 0.001, respectively). ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference in fibrinogen concentration between all three patients groups when assayed using the Clauss method (p value < 0.001 for all the comparisons), but no statistically significant difference between the two patients groups of pregnant women when using the FLEV method. Conclusions: The FLEV method does not provide a valid alternative to the Clauss method due to the problem of fibrinogen overestimation, and for this reason it should not be recommended for the evaluation of patients with an increased risk of hypofibrinogenemia.

Background Major brain injury and uncontrolled blood loss remain the primary causes of early trauma-related mortality. One-quarter to one-third of trauma patients exhibit trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC). Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thrombelastography (TEG) are valuable alternatives to standard coagulation testing, providing a more comprehensive overview of the coagulation process. Purpose Evaluating thromboelastographic profile, the incidence of fibrinolysis (defined as Ly30 > 3%) in severe trauma patients, and factors influencing pathological coagulation pattern. Methods Prospective observational 2 years cohort study on severe trauma patients assisted by Helicopter Emergency Medical System (HEMS) and Level 1 Trauma Center, in a tertiary referral University Hospital. Results Eighty three patients were enrolled, mean NISS (new injury severity score) 36 (± 13). Mean R value decreased from 7.25 (± 2.6) to 6.19 (± 2.5) min (p < 0.03); 48 (60%) patients had a reduction in R from T0 to T1. In NISS 25–40 and NISS > 40 groups, changes in R value increased their significance (p = 0.04 and p < 0.03, respectively). Pathological TEG was found in 71 (88.8%) patients at T0 and 74 (92.5%) at T1. Hypercoagulation was present in 57 (71.3%) patients at T0, and in 66(82.5%) at T1. 9 (11.3%) patients had hyperfibrinolysis at T0, 7 (8.8%) patients at T1. Prevalence of StO2 < 75% at T0 was greater in patients whose TEG worsened (7 patients, 46.7%) against whose TEG remained stable or improved (8 patients, 17.4%) from T0 to T1 (p = 0.02). 48 (57.8%) patients received < 1000 mL of fluids, while 35 (42.2%) received ≥ 1000 mL. The first group had fewer patients with hypercoagulation (20, 41.6%) than the second (6, 17.6%) at T1 (p < 0.03). No differences were found for same TEG pattern at T0, nor other TEG pattern. Conclusion Our population is representative of a non-hemorrhagic severe injury subgroup. Almost all of our trauma population had coagulation abnormalities immediately after the trauma; pro-coagulant changes were the most represented regardless of the severity of injury. NISS appears to affect only R parameter on TEG. Hyperfibrinolysis has been found in a low percentage of patients. Hypoperfusion parameters do not help to identify patients with ongoing coagulation impairment. Small volume resuscitation and mild hypotermia does not affect coagulation, at least in the early post-traumatic phase.

Background: Pregnancy-induced changes in cardiovascular status make women more susceptible to pulmonary edema. During cesarean section, to counterbalance the effect of hypotension caused by spinal anesthesia, anesthesiologists must choose between two fundamental approaches to maintain the hemodynamic state-intravenous fluids or vasopressors-and this choice will depend upon their particular opinions and experience. We aim to assess for any correlations between thoracic ultrasound A-and B-line artifacts, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and the amount of intraoperative fluids administered.Results: From December 2016 to August 2018, at the University-Hospital of Udine, we enrolled 80 consecutive pregnant women undergoing cesarean section. We observed a statistically significant difference in the volume of fluids administered in the first 24 h (p = 0.035) between the patients presenting B-lines in at least one basal area of their thoracic ultrasound and patients with no evident B-lines (AUC 66.4%; IC 0.49-0.83). Dividing the population on whether their BNP levels were higher or less than 20 pg/mL, no statistically significant difference was revealed with regard to fluids administered in the first 24 h (p = 0.537). Conclusions:Thoracic ultrasound is a non-invasive and easy-to-use tool for detecting fluid intolerance in pregnant women undergoing cesarean section. BNP levels were slow to rise following the cesarean section and did not show any clear correlation with fluid volumes administered.