Background: Platelet dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of bleeding complications during and after cardiac surgery. In most surgical institutions, no peri-operative pointof-care monitoring of platelet function is used. We evaluated the usefulness of the Multiplate s platelet function analyser based on impedance aggregometry for identifying groups of patients at a high risk of transfusion of platelet concentrates (PC). Methods: Platelet function parameters were determined in 60 patients before and after routine cardiac surgery. Impedance aggregometry measurements were performed on Multiplate s using ADP (ADPtest), collagen (COLtest) and thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAPtest) as platelet activators. The correlations between the aggregometry results and the transfusion of PC were calculated. The results of the aggregation tests were also divided into tertiles and the differences in PC transfusion between the low and the high tertile were assessed.

The effect of the combined administration of different colloids and/or crystalloids on coagulation is not known. We show that hemostasis is less impaired using a combination of gelatin and median-weight starches than using median-weight starches alone. Furthermore, the combination of lactated Ringer's solution and gelatin decreases the coagulation system to the same extent as the combination of lactated Ringer's solution and 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4.

These in vitro results demonstrate that hydroxythyl starches especially compromise clot polymerisation. The new preparation HES 130/0.4 seems to inhibit platelet function to a lesser extent than hydroxyethyl starch preparations with a higher molecular weight and degree of substitution.

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The onset of fibrin formation and thrombin generation were shortened after rFVIIa addition, but fibrin clot strength was only increased after fibrinogen supplementation. In vitro clot formation was most improved by using both rFVIIa and fibrinogen in whole blood after CPB.