DDAVP Effect by TEG6 in Cardiac Surgery

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a process that uses a pump that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during cardiac surgery to maintain blood circulation and oxygenation. Using CPB during cardiac surgery can result in complications with blood clotting. Blood clotting is achieved when molecules in the blood, called platelets, are able to form together with the help of other clotting factors to form a clot. A drug called desmopressin (DDAVP) is used to help blood clot properly by increasing the amount of clotting factors in the blood. Several studies have shown that desmopressin has the ability to reduce the amount of blood transfusions needed for cardiac surgery patients in the postoperative period. At LHSC desmopressin is frequently requested by Cardiac Surgeons and Anesthesiologists to stop bleeding and promote blood clotting where required. A test called TEG6s pla