Abstract Introduction and objectives The role of the anesthesiologist in the perioperative management of hemostasis has attracted increasing attention. The fibrinolytic system participates in hemostasis, removing clots after repair of the vascular injury. Over the past two decades, several studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of antifibrinolytic agents in reducing perioperative bleeding and transfusion requirements. Some of the conditions that seem to benefit from antifibrinolytic drugs involve trauma, postpartum hemorrhage, cardiac surgery, spine surgery, knee or hip arthroplasty, urological and gynecological surgery, among others. However, there are currently few publications focusing on the perioperative features of fibrinolytic system, which will be the subject of the present review. Content and conclusions Fibrinolytic physiology, its relationship with the clot structure and its perioperative behavior are described. Pathophysiological mechanisms related to anesthesiology clinical practice and their possible perioperative scenarios are addressed according to a suggested classification. This article aims to provide anesthesiologists with a broader understanding of the normal functioning of fibrinolysis, the mechanisms of possible deviations from normality in the perioperative period, the pathophysiological rationale supporting the current indications of antifibrinolytics, and some recent outcomes obtained with their use.

Resumo Introdução: A doença hepática avançada pode, além das complicações hemorrágicas amplamente reconhecidas, ocorrer com eventos trombóticos. Descrevemos o caso de um paciente cirrótico em uso de varfarina, cujo manejo da coagulação durante o transplante de fígado foi guiado por tromboelastometria (ROTEM®). Relato de caso: Paciente do sexo masculino, 56 anos, diagnosticado com cirrose alcoólica, recebendo varfarina (2,5 mg.dia−1) para trombose parcial da veia porta, com razão normalizada internacional (INR) de 2,14. No início da cirurgia, os parâmetros ROTEM® estavam todos normais. Na fase não hepática, EXTEM e INTEM permaneceram normais, mas FIBTEM mostrou redução da amplitude após 10 min e firmeza máxima do coágulo. Por fim, na fase neo-hepática houve uma ligeira alteração da hipocoagulabilidade na maioria dos parâmetros de EXTEM, INTEM e FIBTEM, além de uma correção notável do tempo de coagulação (CT) de HEPTEM em comparação com o CT de INTEM. Portanto, o paciente não recebeu transfusão de hemoderivados durante a cirurgia e no período pós-operatório, obteve alta no oitavo dia de pós-operatório. Discussão: O déficit de coagulação resultante da cirrose distorce o INR como um parâmetro da adequação da anticoagulação e como um determinante da necessidade de transfusão de sangue. Portanto, a tromboelastometria pode fornecer informações importantes para o manejo do paciente.

Abstract Introduction: Advanced hepatic disease may - in addition to the widely recognized hemorrhagic complications - occur with thrombotic events. We describe the case of a cirrhotic patient taking warfarin and whose coagulation management during liver transplantation was guided by thromboelastometry (ROTEM®). Case report: A 56 year-old male patient diagnosed with alcohol cirrhosis using warfarin (2.5 mg.day−1) for partial portal vein thrombosis with the International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 2.14. At the beginning of surgery, the ROTEM® parameters were all normal. In the anhepatic phase, EXTEM and INTEM remained normal, but FIBTEM showed reduction of amplitude after 10 min and maximum clot firmness. Finally, in the neohepatic phase, there was a slight alteration in the hypocoagulability of most of the parameters of the EXTEM, INTEM and FIBTEM, besides a notable correction of the Coagulation Time (CT) in HEPTEM compared to the CT of the INTEM. Therefore, the patient did not receive any transfusion of blood products during surgery and in the postoperative period, being discharged on the 8th postoperative day. Discussion: Coagulation deficit resulting from cirrhosis distorts INR as a parameter of anticoagulation adequacy and as a determinant of the need for blood transfusion. Thus, thromboelastometry can provide important information for patient management.