Scoliotic deformity of the spine: epidemiology, classification, surgical treatment, prediction and correction of intraoperative blood loss

Abstract

In this review are discussed the most important questions of diagnostics, surgical treatment and complications in the context of anaesthesia choice and performance in children and adolescents with different variants of vertebral scoliotic deformity. Vertebral scoliotic deformity is a multi-etiological disease and significant clinical problem due to frequency and severity of complications when disease progresses. Surgery is performed in severe and super severe scoliotic deformity when conservative treatment is not effective. Surgical treatment of severe scoliotic deformity allows to improve physiological function of vertebral column and internal organs’ function, improve quality of life and increase life expectancy. Surgical treatment of severe scoliotic deformity is one of the most complex problem in traumatology and orthopedics which requires multidisciplinary coordination of surgeon, anesthesiologist, narrow specialists and the patient at every step of treatment. The most significant problems in surgical treatment of severe scoliotic deformity are forecasting and blood loss management during the operation and in post-operative care which could reach several circulating blood volumes. The problems of blood loss minimization are discussed: patient’s position on operating table, acute normovolemic haemodilution, managed hypotension, use of antifibrinolythic medications, blood collection and re-infusion, blood transfusion. Blood loss forecasting is an important instrument to get a proactive information to develop personalized approach to patient’s care with assessment of intraoperative blood loss, risk of hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome.