Fluid Management and Transfusions
There were no differences in intraoperative crystalloid or 5% albumin administration. Intraoperative blood product transfusion was also equal between groups. Overall, 62% of patients received intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion with an average volume of 15 mL/kg. Only one patient, who was in the EACA group, received intraoperative fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and platelet transfusions. Cryoprecipitate was given to 13% of all patients intraoperatively. There was a higher percentage of patients receiving cryoprecipitate in the EACA group, but this was not statistically significant. Postoperatively, 23% percent of patients received RBC transfusion, with an average volume of 3 mL/kg. One patient in each group received postoperative FFP, which was given for elevated INR without clinical symptoms. Only one patient received postoperative cryoprecipitate, which was given for hypofibrinogenemia without evidence of bleeding. No patients received postoperative platelet transfusion. Overall there was no difference in transfusion of blood products between groups (Table 3).