BackgroundNormalization of plasma fibrinogen levels may be associated with satisfactory haemostasis and reduced bleeding. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess fibrinogen recovery parameters after administration of fibrinogen concentrate (Haemocomplettan® P) to patients with diffuse bleeding in cardiovascular surgery. Data on transfusion and patient outcomes were also collected.MethodsPatient characteristic and clinical data were obtained from patient records. Results of the thromboelastometry (FIBTEM®) and of the standard coagulation tests, including plasma fibrinogen level, measured before surgery, before and after haemostatic therapy, and on the following day, were retrieved from laboratory records.ResultsThirty-nine patients receiving fibrinogen concentrate for diffuse bleeding requiring haemostatic therapy after cardiopulmonary bypass were identified. The mean fibrinogen concentrate dose administered was 6.5 g. The mean fibrinogen level increased from 1.9 to 3.6 g litre−1 (mean increment of 0.28 g litre−1 per gram of concentrate administered); maximum clot firmness increased from 10 to 21 mm. The mean fibrinogen increase was 2.29 (sd 0.7) mg dl−1 per mg kg−1 bodyweight of concentrate administered. Thirty-five patients received no transfusion of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) or platelet concentrate after receiving fibrinogen concentrate; the remaining four patients received platelet concentrate intraoperatively. Eleven patients received platelets, FFP, or both during the first postoperative day. No venous thromboses, arterial ischaemic events, or deaths were registered during hospitalization.ConclusionsIn this retrospective study, fibrinogen concentrate was effective in increasing plasma fibrinogen level, and contributed to the correction of bleeding after cardiovascular surgery.

BackgroundSupratentorial pneumocephalus after posterior fossa surgery in the semisitting position may lead to decreased alertness and other symptoms. We here aimed to prove the efficacy of normobaric hyperoxia on the absorption of postoperative pneumocephalus according to a standardized treatment protocol.Methods and FindingsWe enrolled 44 patients with postoperative supratentorial pneumocephalus (> 30 ml) after posterior fossa surgery in a semisitting position. After randomisation procedure, patients received either normobaric hyperoxia at FiO2 100% over an endotracheal tube for 3 hours (treatment arm) or room air (control arm). Routine cranial CT scans were performed immediately (CT1) and 24 hours (CT2) after completion of surgery and were rated without knowledge of the therapy arm. Two co-primary endpoints were assessed: (i) mean change of pneumocephalus volume, and (ii) air resorption rate in 24 hours. Secondary endpoints were subjective alertness (Stanford Sleepiness Scale) postoperatively and attention (Stroop test), which were evaluated preoperatively and 24 hours after surgery. The mean change in pneumocephalus volume was higher in patients in the treatment arm as compared to patients in the control arm (p = 0.001). The air resorption rate was higher in patients in the treatment arm as compared to patients in the control arm (p = 0.0015). Differences were more pronounced in patients aged 52 years and older. No difference between patients in treatment arm and control arm was observed for the Stroop test. The distribution of scores in the Stanford Sleepiness Scale differed in the treatment arm as compared to the control arm, and there was a difference in mean values (p = 0.015).ConclusionsAdministration of normobaric hyperoxia at FiO2 100% via an endotracheal tube for 3 hours is safe and efficacious in the treatment of pneumocephalus after posterior fossa surgery in the semisitting position. Largest benefit was found in elderly patients and particularly in older men.Trial RegistrationGerman Clinical Trials Register DRKS00006273

Exposure of neutrophils to anaesthetic agents may alter their functional characteristics and in patients undergoing long-term sedation this may be clinically relevant. We have investigated the in vitro influence of propofol, thiopentone, methohexitone and midazolam on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced respiratory burst of neutrophils by the intracellular oxidative transformation of dihydrorhodamine-123 to the fluorescent dye rhodamine-123 via flow cytometry. We tested in vitro concentrations similar to sedating, anaesthetic, 10-fold sedating and 10-fold anaesthetic plasma concentrations. All drugs showed similar inhibition of respiratory burst at sedating concentrations (1-6%). At anaesthetic concentrations, propofol produced significantly higher mean inhibition (7.3%) compared with thiopentone (4.5%) and methohexitone (0.9%). At 10-fold anaesthetic concentrations inhibition of respiratory burst by propofol was almost complete (90.8%) and significantly higher than that by thiopentone (29.2%) and methohexitone (1.8%). Methohexitone and midazolam had only minimal effects at all concentrations. The effect of the solvent of propofol (10% Intralipid) was similar to that of propofol. Thus suppression of respiratory burst of neutrophils by propofol may be caused by this lipid carrier.

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