Hemolysis is a complication in surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the point-of-care device Hemcheck Helge V-Test, quantifying hemolysis during cardiac surgery with CPB.

Prospective-observational study.

Single-center study.

Patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with CPB.

Blood samples of 78 patients were simultaneously collected during surgery at T0: pre-CPB; T1: at aorta clamping; T2: at 20 minutes after the CPB start; T3: at the end of CPB; and T4: at the end of surgery. Samples were analyzed by the Hemcheck Helge V-Test device, which offers a real-time assessment of hemolysis through the value of plasma-free hemoglobin (PfHb) expressed in mg/dL.

No case of hemolysis (PfHb ≥50 mg/dL) was recorded at T0. The results recorded median PfHb values at T0 = 0.5 (0-7.1) mg/dL, T1 = 3.75 (0-14.4) mg/dL; T2 = 8.25 (0.4-19.1) mg/dL, T3 = 27.5 (9.9-50) mg/dL, and T4 = 18.5 (2.4-41) mg/dL; for all T times, p-values were < 0.001. A statistically significant correlation was recorded between hemolysis values >50 mg/dL at T3 and CPB time >100 minutes (p < 0.05).

The use of Hemcheck Helge V-Test allows effective identification of hemolysis directly in the operating room, reducing wasted time for laboratory analyses. This could help the anesthesiologist, perfusionist, or cardiac surgeon address intraoperative hemolysis and its effects on organ function earlier and improve the postoperative course of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.