Postoperative bleeding is associated with significant resource use and is an important contributor to other major adverse events in pediatric patients undergoing complex cardiac surgical procedures. Thromboelastography (TEG; TEG 6S, Haemonetics) can guide perioperative blood product transfusions to reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding. This study validated the use of a previously developed TEG 6S maximum amplitude (TEG-MA)–based platelet transfusion calculator used during cardiac surgical procedures to minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding.

In this single-center retrospective study of pediatric patients (aged ≤18 years) who underwent cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass at Boston Children’s Hospital (Boston, MA) (N = 1000), the volume of platelet transfusion administered at surgical team discretion was compared with the platelet calculator–recommended platelet transfusion volume by using linear regression analysis. Associations between the adequacy of perioperative platelet transfusion and postoperative bleeding or thrombotic complications within the first 24 hours postoperatively (bleeding) and until hospital discharge (thrombosis) were evaluated by logistic regression analysis.

Lower TEG-MA (≤45 mm) measurements after transfusion were associated with a higher risk for postoperative bleeding (odds ratio, 4.4; 95% CI, 2.6-7.4; P < .01 [significant P value <.05]). The platelet transfusion calculator–recommended platelet transfusion volume (on the basis of TEG-MA measured at the time of rewarming) demonstrated moderate correlation with the measured TEG-MA value after platelet transfusion (Pearson r = 0.7). Intraoperative volumes of platelet transfusion that failed to increase a postoperative TEG-MA of at least 45 mm significantly increased the risk for postoperative bleeding in the first 24 hours after surgical procedures (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.9-5.4; P < .01 [significant P value <.05]). The posttransfusion TEG-MA was not independently associated with thrombosis.

Customizing perioperative platelet transfusion therapy by using quantitative diagnostic tests can help reduce postoperative bleeding complications.