Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thromboelastography (TEG) informs the need for blood product transfusions to prevent procedural bleeding complications in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to evaluate the impact of using a TEG-based transfusion protocol on blood product utilization before paracentesis and the post-paracentesis hemoperitoneum (PPH) incidence. METHODS: We conducted an ambispective analysis of patients with cirrhosis who underwent paracentesis from 2017 to 2021. In May 2019, we enacted a TEG-based transfusion protocol to guide pre-paracentesis blood product use. Patients with platelets < 20,000 or international normalized ratio ≥ 4 underwent TEG and received blood products if r value > 10 min or MA <30 mm. Patients were divided into pre-TEG and post-TEG protocol cohorts based on the date of paracentesis. Pre-paracentesis blood product transfusions in the form of platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitates were recorded. PPH was defined as a decrease in hemoglobin of ≥1 g and the presence of blood on diagnostic imaging and/or the need for therapeutic intervention. RESULTS: A total of 483 patients underwent 1281 paracenteses. The main etiologies of cirrhosis were alcohol (43%) and NASH (25%), and the mean MELD-sodium was 22±6. Pre-TEG and post-TEG protocol cohort sizes were similar: 253 patients and 607 paracenteses versus 230 patients and 674 paracenteses. After TEG-protocol implementation, blood product transfusions decreased significantly (228 vs. 49 products, p<0.001) with associated cost savings. One patient in each cohort developed PPH. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a pre-paracentesis TEG-based transfusion protocol for patients with cirrhosis successfully resulted in decreased blood product use with no associated increase in incidence of PPH.