Coagulation management, and transfusion practice in liver transplantation (LT) have been evolving in the recent years due to better understanding of coagulation abnormalities in end-stage liver disease, and clinical management of LT patients. Avoidance of allogeneic blood components is feasible in some patients, but multi-modal coagulation therapies may be necessary in others who develop complex coagulopathy due to hemorrhage, hemodilution, hypothermia, and acid-base disturbances. Transfusions of plasma and cryoprecipitate remain to be the mainstay therapy for procoagulant factor replacement during LT. Clinical efficacy and safety of these products are limited by logistic issues (eg, thawing), and mostly noninfectious complications. Considering potential alternatives to conventional transfusion is thus important to improve hemostatic resuscitation in complex LT cases. The present review is mainly focused on procoagulant properties of plasma and platelet transfusion, and currently available plasma-derived and recombinant factor concentrates, and antifibrinolytic agents in LT patients. The role of viscoelastic coagulation tests to guide specific component therapies will be also discussed.

Platelets play pivotal roles in hemostasis as well as pathological arterial thrombosis. The combination of aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor has become the mainstay therapy in the ageing population with cardiovascular conditions, particularly during and after percutaneous coronary intervention. A number of novel P2Y12 inhibitors has become available in the recent years, and they markedly vary in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Perioperative physicians today face a challenge of preventing hemorrhage due to platelet inhibitors, while minimizing thrombotic risks. There are several point-of-care platelet function tests available in the peri-procedural assessment of residual platelet aggregation. However, these platelet function tests are not standardized in terms of sample processing, agonist type and potency as well as methods of detecting platelet activity. Understanding the differences in pharmacological properties of antiplatelet agents, principles of platelet function tests, and pertinent hemostatic strategies may be useful to anesthesiologists and intensivists who manage perioperative issues associated with antiplatelet agents. The objectives of this review are: 1) to discuss clinical data on aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors relating to perioperative bleeding, 2) to outline different features of point-of-care platelet function tests, and 3) to discuss therapeutic options for the prevention and treatment of bleeding associated with antiplatelet agents.

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It is controversial whether fetal delivery improves maternal oxygenation during mechanical ventilation. We evaluated maternal arterial partial pressure of oxygen (Pao 2) to fractional oxygen concentration (Fio 2) (P/F) ratios before and after delivery in this series of 15 parturients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Compared to the immediate postpartum period, P/F ratio was increased at 48 hours (212 ± 101 vs 271 ± 90; P = .006). Linear regression demonstrated improvement in P/F ratio during the study period (slope, 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87–5.34; P = .007), although predelivery and postdelivery periods separately did not exhibit any specific trend. Five patients required emergent bedside delivery. We discuss numerous considerations guiding delivery planning during mechanical ventilation.