Monitoring Clotting Complications in Patients Treated with MARS
Author Information
Author(s): Esther B. Bachli, Jörg Bösiger, Markus Béchir, John F. Stover, Reto Stocker, Marco Maggiorini, Eberhard L. Renner, Beat Müllhaupt, Reto A. Schuepbach
Primary Institution: University Hospital Zurich
Hypothesis
Monitoring clotting parameters and bed-side thromboelastography allows to reduce bleeding complications during MARS therapy.
Conclusion
Close monitoring of coagulation parameters can predict and help prevent bleeding complications during MARS therapy.
Supporting Evidence
- Monitoring of clotting parameters was performed during 25 MARS sessions.
- Nine relevant complications occurred during the study.
- Fibrinogen content and platelet counts were significantly higher prior to sessions that were later complicated.
Takeaway
Doctors used a special test to watch how blood clots in patients getting a treatment for liver problems, and it helped them avoid bleeding issues.
Methodology
Retrospective analysis of 25 MARS sessions with monitoring of clotting parameters using a standardized protocol.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to retrospective data collection and small number of events.
Limitations
The small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
5 patients with acute liver failure or acute-on-chronic liver failure.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.94 for fibrinogen, 0.82 for platelets
Confidence Interval
CI95% 0.74 to 0.99 for fibrinogen, 0.5 to 0.95 for platelets
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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