Anticoagulation in simultaneous pancreas kidney transplantation - On what basis?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: diagnostic test which is used in liver transplantation, and in various intensive care settings to guide anticoagulation. TEG is better than CCT because it is dynamic and provides a global hemostatic profile including fibrinolysis. AIM: To compare the outcomes between TEG and CCT (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and international normalized ratio) directed anticoagulation in simultaneous pancreas and kidney (SPK) transplant recipients. METHODS: A single center retrospective analysis comparing the outcomes between TEG and CCT-directed anticoagulation in SPK recipients, who were matched for donor age and graft type (donors after brainstem death and donors after circulatory death). Anticoagulation consisted of intravenous (IV) heparin titrated up to a maximum of 500 IU/h based on CCT in conjunction with various clinical parameters or directed by TEG results. Graft loss due to thrombosis, anticoagulation related bleeding, radiological incidence of partial thrombi in the pancreas graft, thrombus resolution rate after anticoagulation dose escalation, length of the hospital stays and, 1-year pancreas and kidney graft survival between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: 0.23, log tank test). CONCLUSION: TEG is a promising tool in guiding judicious use of anticoagulation with concomitant prevention of graft loss due to thrombosis, and reduces the length of hospital stay.