A GDP strategy is effective in reducing AKIN stage 1 AKI. Further studies are needed to define perfusion interventions that may reduce more severe levels of renal injury (AKIN stage 2 or 3).

Introduction: Pulmonary endarterectomy requires cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, which may prolong the activated clotting time. We investigated whether activated clotting time–guided anticoagulation under these circumstances suppresses hemostatic activation. Methods: Individual heparin sensitivity was determined by the heparin dose–response test, and anticoagulation was monitored by the activated clotting time and heparin concentration. Perioperative hemostasis was evaluated by thromboelastometry, platelet aggregation, and several plasma coagulation markers. Results: Eighteen patients were included in this study. During cooling, tube-based activated clotting time increased from 719 (95% confidence interval = 566-872 seconds) to 1,273 (95% confidence interval = 1,136-1,410 seconds; p < 0.01) and the cartridge-based activated clotting time increased from 693 (95% confidence interval = 590-796 seconds) to 883 (95% confidence interval = 806-960 seconds; p < 0.01), while thrombin–antithrombin showed an eightfold increase. The heparin concentration showed a slightly declining trend during cardiopulmonary bypass. After protamine administration (protamine-to-heparin bolus ratio of 0.82 (0.71-0.90)), more than half of the patients showed an intrinsically activated coagulation test and intrinsically activated coagulation test without heparin effect clotting time >240 seconds. Platelet aggregation through activation of the P2Y12 (adenosine diphosphate test) and thrombin receptor (thrombin receptor activating peptide-6 test) decreased (both −33%) and PF4 levels almost doubled (from 48 (95% confidence interval = 42-53 ng/mL) to 77 (95% confidence interval = 71-82 ng/mL); p < 0.01) between weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and 3 minutes after protamine administration. Conclusion: This study shows a wide variation in individual heparin sensitivity in patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Although activated clotting time–guided anticoagulation management may underestimate the level of anticoagulation and consequently result in a less profound inhibition of hemostatic activation, this study lacked power to detect adverse outcomes.

Objective In cardiac surgery, colloid oncotic pressure (COP) is affected by haemodilution that results from composition and volume of prime fluid of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, the extent to which different priming strategies alter COP is largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of different priming strategies on COP in on-pump cardiac surgery. Methods Patients ( n = 60) were divided into 3 groups ( n = 20 each), based on the center in which they were operated and the specific prime fluid strategy used in that center during the inclusion period. CPB prime fluids were either gelofusine-, albumin-, or crystalloid based, the latter two with or without retrograde autologous priming. Results In all groups, COP was lowest after weaning from CPB and one hour after CPB. Between groups, COP was lowest with gelofusine prime fluid (16.4, 16.8 mmHg, respectively) compared with crystalloids (MD: -1.9; 95% CI:-3.6, -0.2; p = .02 and MD: -2.4, 95% CI: -4.2, -0.7; p = .002) and albumin (MD: -1.8, 95% CI: -3.5, -0.50; p = .041 and MD: -2.4, 95% CI: -4.1, -0.7; p = .002). In all groups, the decrease in COP one hour after bypass compared to baseline correlated positively with fluid balance at the end of surgery ( p < .001). Conclusions COP significantly decrease during CPB surgery with the largest decrease in COP at the end of surgery, while at the same time fluid balance increases. We suggest that prime fluid strategy should be carefully selected when maintenance of COP during cardiac surgery is desirable.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are known to be highly effective in the treatment of various cancers with kinase-domain mutations such as chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, they have important side effects such as increased vascular permeability and pulmonary hypertension. In patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, these side effects may exacerbate postoperative complications such as reperfusion edema and persistent pulmonary hypertension. We report on a simple modification of the perfusion strategy to increase intravascular oncotic pressure by retrograde autologous priming and the addition of packed cells and albumin in a patient treated with a TKI.