Background

Intraoperative hypofibrinogenemia is a major factor associated with increased postoperative blood loss in adult cardiac surgery. However, previous pediatric studies on this topic did not sufficiently adjust for potential confounders and variations in surgeons’ techniques. Therefore, evidence for the association between hypofibrinogenemia and postoperative blood loss after cardiac surgery in children remains insufficient. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between postoperative blood loss and hypofibrinogenemia by adjusting for potential confounders and the effects of differences in surgeons’ techniques.

Methodology

This single-center, retrospective, cohort study included children who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from April 2019 to March 2022. Multilevel logistic regression models with mixed effects were used to evaluate the association of major blood loss in the first six hours postoperatively with fibrinogen concentration at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. The difference in the surgeon’s techniques was adjusted as a random effect for the model. The model included potential confounders identified as risk factors in previous studies.

Results

A total of 401 patients were included. A fibrinogen concentration ≤150 mg/dL (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.08; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18-3.67; p = 0.011) and the presence of cyanotic disease (aOR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.10-4.97; p = 0.027) were associated with major blood loss in the first six postoperative hours.

Conclusions

A fibrinogen concentration ≤150 mg/dL and the presence of cyanotic disease were associated with postoperative blood loss in pediatric cardiac surgery. Maintaining a fibrinogen concentration >150 mg/dL is recommended, especially for patients with cyanotic diseases.