Hemostatic disorders in patients with infective endocarditis undergoing urgent surgical valve replacement - Rethinking current beliefs.

BACKGROUND

Although infective endocarditis (IE) represents a unique model of thrombo-inflammatory disease, the most frequent early complications of surgical valve replacement (SVR) in IE population are coagulopathy and bleeding. The hemostatic capacity and procedure-related coagulation disorders of IE patients undergoing SVR are unknown. The aims of this study were to test periprocedural hemostasis in IE patients undergoing urgent SVR, and to assess the association between disorders of hemostasis and early bleeding as well as with thromboembolic events.

METHODS

A prospective, two-center, hypothesis generating, observational study was performed between Dec 2017 and Jan 2020. Periprocedural hemostasis of IE patients was assessed using Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System (T-TAS Plus) within 24 h before and 72 h post SVR.

RESULTS

Overall, 25 patients with active IE undergoing urgent SVR were tested. Hemostatic capacity of IE patients was significantly impaired pre-SVR as well as post-SVR compared to normal values, in most aspects of T-TAS assays under high and low shear forces, including prolonged activation of coagulation (T10), final clot formation (OT) and clot strength (AUC30). Post-SVR T-TAS results were significantly associated with early bleeding and with red blood cell, platelet, and fresh frozen plasma administration. No association with thrombo-embolic events was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with active IE undergoing urgent SVR have significantly reduced hemostatic capacity before and after SVR. Hemostatic insufficiency post-SVR is related to bleeding and blood products transfusion. T-TAS may be helpful in assessment of periprocedural hemostasis in patients with IE undergoing SVR.