Intraoperative Platelet and Plasma Improves Survival in Patients Operated for a rAAA: A Follow-up Evaluation

AbstractObjectivesContinued haemorrhage remains a significant contributor to mortality in massively transfused patients. We found that early administration of platelets and plasma reduced mortality from 54% to 36% in rAAA patients. The aim of the present evaluation was to evaluate whether reduced mortality in rAAA patients related to a pro-active transfusion therapy is maintained.DesignSingle-centre observational study.MethodsMortality of patients operated for rAAA 2006–07 was compared to that of patients operated 2004–05 (intervention group; n=50) and 2002–04 (control group, n=82).Results64 consecutive patients with rAAA received, similar to the intervention group, more platelets (5 and 4 vs. 0 units, P<0.05) and plasma (12 and 11 vs. 7 units, P<0.05) intraoperatively and had a higher platelet count (158 and 155 vs. 69×109/L, P<0.0001) upon arrival at the intensive care unit and the 30-day mortality remained reduced (24% and 36% vs. 56%, P