Management of haemostatic alterations and associated disorders in cirrhosis in Spain: A national survey

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of haematological abnormalities in cirrhosis has greatly improved in recent years.

Aims: To evaluate how Spanish Digestive Disease specialists manage haemostatic alterations and associated disorders in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: All members of the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver and Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology were invited to fill in a web-based questionnaire.

Results: 135 professionals, 93 hepatologists and 42 non-hepatologists responded to the survey. The concept of rebalanced haemostasis was known by 74.8% of them. Most specialists corrected the INR and thrombocytopenia before invasive procedures with moderate risk of bleeding or major surgery and in severe gastrointestinal bleeding. The threshold of platelets and, especially, INR used to administer blood products varied greatly. Pharmacological prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism prevailed, but it was highly dependent on the INR and platelet figures. Most participants initiated anticoagulation regardless of the degree of portal vein thrombosis, even in patients ineligible for transplantation. In potential candidates, only 56% maintained it indefinitely or until liver transplantation. No major differences between hepatologists and non-hepatologists were found.

Conclusions: A significant variability and certain deviation from current guidelines was observed among Spanish Digestive Disease specialists regarding management of haemostatic alterations and associated disorders in cirrhosis.

Keywords: Anticoagulants; Haemorrhage; Haemostasis; Thrombosis.