Tracheostomy in intensive care unit patients can be performed without bleeding complications in case of normal thromboelastometry results (EXTEM CT) despite increased PT-INR: a prospective pilot study

BACKGROUND Coagulopathy is often accompanied by prolongation of prothrombin time (PT) in septic and nonseptic patients in intensive care unit (ICU). The conventional way to correct the coagulopathy is to administer fresh frozen plasma (FFP) before invasive procedures to minimise the risk of bleeding. However, prolonged PT can be present even in hypercoagulation status, resulting in unnecessary administration of FFP. In the present study, we have assessed the reliability of thromboelastometry in case of prolonged PT and the relationship to bleeding complications during surgical tracheostomy. METHODS The study was conducted during the period between April 2013 and April 2014 in patients undergoing surgical tracheostomy. Coagulation status was assessed using PT, and the status was reassessed by thromboelastometry for prolonged PT. Tracheostomy was performed in patients with normal thromboelastometry results without administering FFP. RESULTS Tracheostomy was performed in total 119 patients. Normal value of PT as measured by international normalized ratio (INR) ≤ 1.2 was found in 64 (54%) patients, while prolonged INR > 1.2 was found in 55 (46%) patients. Patients with INR ≥ 1.3 (with INR min- 1.3, max- 1.84, and median- 1.48) were further analysed by thromboelastometry. Despite prolonged INR, thromboelastometry results were in normal ranges in all cases except one. With normal thromboelastometry, tracheostomy was performed safely without any bleeding complication. CONCLUSIONS Surgical tracheostomy in septic and nonseptic patients can be performed without bleeding complications in case of normal thromboelastometry results (EXTEM CT) despite increased PT-INR. This method can help physicians to reduce unnecessary administration of FFP in patients.