Bleeding is a common complication of cardiac surgery, especially aortic arch surgery involving moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest. Fibrinogen concentrate is increasingly used to treat coagulopathic bleeding in cardiac surgery, although its effectiveness and safety are unknown.

Fibrinogen concentrate was administered to 54 patients when the fibrinogen level was below 1.5 g/L after protamine reversal. Additionally, 30 patients were enrolled as the non-FC-treated group.

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of fibrinogen concentrate in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.

Eighty-four acute type A aortic dissection patients undergoing emergency aortic arch surgery involving moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest were included. The clinical data, standard laboratory tests and plasma fibrinogen levels were obtained at 5 time points.

The investigators analyzed the standard laboratory tests, the plasma fibrinogen levels, the volumes of cumulative postoperative drainage and transfused allogenic blood products in 84 patients.

The primary and secondary end points were determined and considered.The primary endpoint (efficacy endpoint) included the volumes of individual allogeneic blood products, volumes of cumulative drainage within 24 h and 48 h and 5 days volumes after infusion of fibrinogen concentrate as well as the rates of reoperation due to bleeding. The secondary endpoint (safety endpoint) for the study was the incidence of serious adverse events from infusion of fibrinogen concentrate to day 45. The serious adverse events defined for the evaluation of safety of fibrinogen concentrate were death, pulmonary embolism and other thromboembolic or ischemic events (myocardial infarction, paraplegia and cerebral infarction).

Inclusion Criteria:

• The participants aged 18 years or above who were undergoing emergency aortic arch surgery involving moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest for an acute type A aortic dissection

Exclusion Criteria:

• The participants with congenital or acquired coagulation disorders, previous surgery at the same site, death prior to planned surgery, stroke or myocardial infarction within 2 months before surgery and use of aspirin, clopidogrel or vitamin K antagonists within 2 to 5 days before surgery.