Transfusion characteristics and hemostatic conditions in octogenarians undergoing emergency surgery for acute aortic dissection: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: The number of elderly patients undergoing elective as well as emergent cardiac surgery is increasing. Octogenarian and older patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) have a significantly higher risk of postoperative mortality than younger patients. Hemostasis is difficult in octogenarians with AAD. However, few studies have investigated perioperative blood transfusion volumes and hemostatic conditions in patients undergoing AAD surgery. We retrospectively investigated whether these factors differed between octogenarians and younger patients with AAD. METHODS: The records of 207 patients who underwent emergency surgery for AAD were reviewed between 2008 and 2014. We compared the total volumes of transfused blood components (red blood cell concentrate, fresh frozen plasma, platelets concentrate, and cryoprecipitate), perioperative blood coagulation test results (prothrombin time-international normalized ratio, activated partial thrombin time, and activated coagulation time), and intensive care unit and hospital stay durations between octogenarians (n = 33) and patients < 80 years old (n = 170). RESULTS: A significantly greater volume of red blood cell concentrates was transfused in octogenarians than in patients < 80 years old. Isolated prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time was observed in octogenarian patients. Duration of hospital stays was significantly longer in octogenarians than in patients < 80 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Octogenarians required more red blood cells during surgery for AAD and exhibited isolated APTT prolongation.