Multidisciplinary paper on patient blood management in cardiothoracic surgery in the UK: perspectives on practice during COVID-19

Al-Attar, N. et al. (2023) Multidisciplinary paper on patient blood management in cardiothoracic surgery in the UK: perspectives on practice during COVID-19. Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 18, 96. (doi: 10.1186/s13019-023-02195-4) (PMID:37005650) (PMCID:PMC10066978)

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted all surgical specialties significantly and exerted additional pressures on the overburdened United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service. Healthcare professionals in the UK have had to adapt their practice. In particular, surgeons have faced organisational and technical challenges treating patients who carried higher risks, were more urgent and could not wait for prehabilitation or optimisation before their intervention. Furthermore, there were implications for blood transfusion with uncertain patterns of demand, reductions in donations and loss of crucial staff because of sickness and public health restrictions. Previous guidelines have attempted to address the control of bleeding and its consequences after cardiothoracic surgery, but there have been no targeted recommendations in light of the recent COVID-19 challenges. In this context, and with a focus on the perioperative period, an expert multidisciplinary Task Force reviewed the impact of bleeding in cardiothoracic surgery, explored different aspects of patient blood management with a focus on the use of haemostats as adjuncts to conventional surgical techniques and proposed best practice recommendations in the UK.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This manuscript was funded by Baxter Healthcare Limited, Wallingford Road, Compton, Berkshire, RG20 7QW, United Kingdom under a grant for the medical writer support.
• Keywords: Blood management, bleeding, cardiothoracic surgery, COVID-19, haemostats.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kirk, Mr Alan and Al-Attar, Mr Nawwar
• Authors: Al-Attar, N., Gaer, J., Giordano, V., Harris, E., Kirk, A., Loubani, M., Meybohm, P., Sayeed, R., Stock, U., Travers, J., and Whiteman, B.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 1749-8090
• ISSN (Online): 1749-8090
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery 18: 96
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License