Anesthesiology
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Vitamin K antagonist therapy is associated with an increased bleeding risk, and clinicians often reverse anticoagulation in patients who require emergency surgical procedures. Current guidelines for rapid anticoagulation reversal for emergency surgery recommend four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate and vitamin K coadministration. The authors reviewed the current evidence on prothrombin complex concentrate treatment for vitamin K antagonist reversal in the perioperative setting, focusing on comparative studies and in the context of intracranial hemorrhage and cardiac surgery. ⋯ In comparative studies with plasma, prothrombin complex concentrate use was associated with a greater proportion of patients achieving target international normalized ratios rapidly, with improved hemostasis. No differences in thromboembolic event rates were seen between prothrombin complex concentrate and plasma, with prothrombin complex concentrate also demonstrating a lower risk of fluid overload events. Overall, the studies the authors reviewed support current recommendations favoring prothrombin complex concentrate therapy in patients requiring vitamin K antagonist reversal before emergency surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Morbidity and Mortality of Crystalloids Compared to Colloids in Critically Ill Surgical Patients: A Subgroup Analysis of a Randomized Trial.
WHAT THIS ARTICLE TELLS US THAT IS NEW: BACKGROUND:: The multicenter randomized Colloids versus Crystalloids for the Resuscitation of the Critically Ill (CRISTAL) trial was designed to test whether colloids altered mortality compared to crystalloids in the resuscitation of intensive care unit patients with hypovolemic shock. This preplanned analysis tested the same hypothesis in the subgroup of surgical patients. ⋯ The authors found no survival benefit when comparing crystalloids to colloids in critically ill surgical patients.