Biomarker Measurements
Samples of blood were collected at six points in time:
T0- anesthesia induction; T1- lowest
core temperature (only collected in elective patients with core
temperature ≤32°C, n=14); T2- just before protamine
administration; T3- end of surgery; T4-
24h after surgery; T5- 96-120h after surgery. A central
venous line was used for samples collected at T0,
T4, and T5. A circuit from the
cardiopulmonary bypass machine was used for samples collected at
T1 and T2. A radial artery line was used
for the samples collected at T3.
All samples were analyzed at the Dept. of Clinical Chemistry, Division
of Laboratory Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, on a
ROTEM. Parameters tested were INTEM, EXTEM, HEPTEM, and FIBTEM and
variables clotting time (CT), which is time from start until clotting is
initiated in seconds (s) and maximum clot firmness (MCF), which is
maximum diameter of clot in millimeters (mm).