Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Jun 1996
Significance of D-dimer concentrations during and after cardiopulmonary bypass.
To determine whether D-dimer fragments predictably increase during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and if so, whether increases correlate with postoperative blood loss or predict postoperative coagulopathy. ⋯ D-dimer concentration is not usually elevated in patients undergoing CPB when adequately anticoagulated as monitored using the ACT. When mild elevation of D-dimer occurs, it is most often after heparin neutralization and/or in the postoperative period and is not predictive of increased postoperative blood loss. Elevations of D-dimer concentrations in the postoperative period without corresponding decreases in fibrinogen concentrations may occur and do not signify coagulopathy.