Infusion of autologous platelet rich plasma does not reduce blood loss and product use after coronary artery bypass. A prospective, randomized, blinded study.

Prior nonblinded studies have suggested dramatic hemostatic effects and decreased plasma after cardiopulmonary bypass. Platelet rich plasma (8 to 10 ml/kg total body weight) was obtained (Haemonetics Plasma Saver; Haemonetics Corp., Natick, Mass.) from 51 patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass grafting before heparinization. After double-blinded randomization, the platelet rich plasma was reinfused immediately in the control group or after heparin reversal in the treatment group. Homologous blood product usage, blood loss, and the surgeon's intraoperative subjective assessment of coagulation were evaluated. Additionally, thromboelastography, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, activated clotting time, fibrinogen, platelet counts, and hematocrit values were evaluated before the operation, after heparin reversal, after infusion of platelet rich plasma or control solution, and 2 hours after infusion. The surgeon's subjective assessment of coagulation was not different between control and treatment groups (p = 0.78). According to specific predetermined transfusion guidelines, no statistically significant differences were found in the use of whole blood (p = 0.07), packed red blood cells (p = 0.62), platelets (p = 0.11), total units of blood products (p = 0.45), or in the percentage of patients receiving transfusions (control group 70%, treatment group 71%, p = 0.97). Cumulative amount of blood shed through the chest tube was not significantly different between the groups at any interval but tended toward significance at 4, 6, and 12 hours (p = 0.09, 0.07, and 0.09). The prothrombin time immediately after reinfusion of platelet rich plasma was significantly lower in the treatment group (p = 0.03), but all other laboratory studies were similar at each time interval. Infusion of platelet rich plasma after cardiopulmonary bypass in patients having uncomplicated primary coronary artery bypass grafting has minimal effects on the surgeon's assessment of coagulation, total transfusion requirements, mediastinal drainage, and laboratory studies of coagulation.