A systematic review of thromboelastography utilization in vascular and endovascular surgery

Objective: Thromboelastography (TEG) is diagnostic modality that analyzes real-time blood coagulation parameters. Clinically, TEG primarily allows for directed blood component resuscitation among patients with acute blood loss and coagulopathy. The utilization of TEG has been widely adopted in among other surgical specialties; however, its use in vascular surgery is less prominent. We aimed to provide an up-to-date review of TEG utilization in vascular and endovascular surgery. Methods: Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a literature review with the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms "TEG and arterial events", "TEG and vascular surgery", "TEG and vascular", "TEG and endovascular surgery", "TEG and endovascular", "TEG and peripheral artery disease", "TEG and prediction of arterial events", "TEG and prediction of complications ", "TEG and prediction of thrombosis", "TEG and prediction of amputation", and "TEG and amputation" was performed in Cochrane and PubMed databases to identify all peerreviewed studies of TEG utilization in vascular surgery, written between 2000 and 2021 in the English language. The free-text and MeSH subheadings search terms included diagnosis, complications, physiopathology, surgery, mortality, and therapy to further restrict the articles. Studies were excluded if they were not in humans or pertaining to vascular or endovascular surgery. Additionally, case reports and studies with limited information regarding TEG utilization were excluded. Each study was independently reviewed by two researchers to assess for eligibility. Results: Of the 262 studies identified through the MeSH strategy, 15 studies met inclusion criteria and were reviewed and summarized. Literature on TEG utilization in vascular surgery spanned cerebrovascular disease (n = 3), peripheral arterial disease (n = 3), arteriovenous malformations (n = 1), venous thromboembolic events (n = 7), and perioperative bleeding and transfusion (n = 1). In cerebrovascular disease, TEG may predict the presence and stability of carotid plaques, analyze platelet function before carotid stenting, and compare efficacy of antiplatelet therapy after stent deployment. In peripheral arterial disease, TEG has been used to predict disease severity and analyze the impact of contrast on coagulation parameters. In venous disease, TEG may predict hypercoagulability and thromboembolic events among various patient populations. Finally, TEG can be utilized in the postoperative setting to predict hemorrhage and transfusion requirements. Conclusions: This systematic review provides an up-to-date summarization of TEG utilization in multiple facets of vascular and endovascular surgery.