Changes in coagulation status as measured by thromboelastography in patients undergoing revision total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: Venous thromboembolism events (VTEs) continue to be of the most widespread severe complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there are no optimal accurate monitoring methods to assess the changes in coagulability after anticoagulation and anti-fibrinolysis during the perioperative period. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine changes in coagulability as measured by thromboelastography (TEG) following revision total hip arthroplasty when the patients received rivaroxaban and tranexamic acid in perioperative period during enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 70 revision TKA patients (mean age 63.69±10.17 years). Perioperative management of each patient was conducted in accordance with ERAS. The patients received tranexamic (TXA) to control perioperative bleeding. TEG was performed pre-operatively and on post-operative days (POD) 1, 3, 5 and 7. TEG-hypercoagulability was classified into three types: enzymatic hypercoagulability, platelet hypercoagulability and mixed hypercoagulability. Screening for coagulation-related complications at three months of follow-up. Results: The mean duration of surgery was 2.91±0.99 h. the mean intraoperative blood loss of patients was 486.43±346.92 ml. And 55.71% (39) patients received transfusion, the mean blood transfusion volume was 482.86 ± 458.79 ml. There only were 4 (5.71%) patients who suffered postoperative coagulation-related complications. 1 patient with hypercoagulable on preoperative developed intramuscular venous thrombosis at 1 month postoperatively. 1 patient with hypercoagulability at POD5 and POD7 suffered melena at POD5. 2 patients with hypocoagulability developed ecchymosis at POD3. The proportion of postoperative hypercoagulable state is gradually increasing. The distribution of different hypercoagulable states on the postoperative day (POD) 5 and 7 were significantly different from that pre-operation (Pre) and POD1 (POD5 vs Pre: p=0.011; POD5 vs POD1: p=0.001; POD7 vs Pre: p=0.001; POD7 vs POD5: p<0.001). We found 32.86%(23) revision THA with hypercoagulable state on POD7.For 78.26%(18) of these patients there was mixed hypercoagulability. Conclusions: In ERAS, thromboelastography was an effective way to identify hypercoagulable state in patients undergoing revision hip arthroplasty, and mixed hypercoagulability is the predominant hypercoagulable state following revision hip arthroplasty. In addition, it is very important to develop an individualized coagulation management program.