Do patients who require re-exploration for bleeding have inferior outcomes following cardiac surgery?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was: Do patients who require return to theatre (RTT) for bleeding have inferior outcomes following cardiac surgery? Altogether, 598 papers were found using the reported search, of which 8 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. In summary, patients who bleed following cardiac surgery and then RTT have increased mortality and experience greater morbidity, including neurological, respiratory and renal complications, which result in increased length of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay. It is not easy to dissect the relative contribution of the blood loss and consequent haemodynamic instability, the RTT and the increased blood product consumption to the inferior outcomes observed, as there is evidence that each is important. However, several studies have demonstrated RTT to be an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality, even when controlling for amount of transfusion. Patients who bleed and RTT beyond 12 h postoperatively appear to have the poorest outcomes, suggesting that the decision to RTT should not be delayed if there are concerns over significant bleeding, to ensure the best patient outcomes.