Quantitative and Temporal Differences in Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Platelet Activation after On-Pump and Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Vallely, Michael P.; Bannon, Paul G.; Bayfield, Matthew S.; Hughes, Clifford F.; Kritharides, Len

doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.08.012

« Previous Next »Heart, Lung and Circulation
Volume 18, Issue 2 , Pages 123-130, April 2009

Quantitative and Temporal Differences in Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Platelet Activation after On-Pump and Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Michael P. Vallely, PhD, FRACS
- The Baird Institute, 304/100 Carillon Avenue, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
- Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 295501933.
Paul G. Bannon, PhD, FRACS
- The Baird Institute, 304/100 Carillon Avenue, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
- Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Matthew S. Bayfield, FRACS
- The Baird Institute, 304/100 Carillon Avenue, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
- Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Clifford F. Hughes, AO, FRACS
- The Baird Institute, 304/100 Carillon Avenue, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
- Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Len Kritharides, PhD, FRACP
- The Baird Institute, 304/100 Carillon Avenue, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Concord Repatriation and General Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Received 14 March 2008; received in revised form 22 June 2008; accepted 28 August 2008.

Background

With the increasing use of OPCAB, potentially devastating thromboembolic events, including graft thrombosis may become increasingly evident. We present a study of the quantitative and temporal differences of the coagulation system, fibrinolysis and platelet activation after coronary artery surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods

Patients undergoing on-pump CABG (n=10) or OPCAB (n=10) had six blood samples taken before surgery and up to 24h post-operatively. Activation of the coagulation cascade (tissue factor pathway—factor VIIa), endothelial injury (von Willebrand Factor antigen), thrombin generation (prothrombin fragments FI+II), fibrinolysis (decreased plasminogen levels), fibrin degradation (D-Dimer), platelet counts and platelet activation (soluble P-selectin) were quantified.

Results

CABG caused earlier and more significant generation of thrombin, however OPCAB caused a late and sustained generation of thrombin. CABG caused intraoperative activation of fibrinolysis and fibrin degradation, however, at 24h these parameters were equally elevated in both groups. Platelet activation was significant in the CABG group, but did not occur in the OPCAB group.

Conclusions

Late thrombin generation and reduced fibrinolysis in the presence of intact, functioning platelets may contribute to adverse thromboembolic events after OPCAB surgery. Thromboembolic prophylaxis and anti-platelet therapy may need to be more aggressive after OPCAB surgery.

Keywords: Cardiac surgery, Cardiopulmonary bypass, Off-pump surgery