The Year in Coagulation: Selected Highlights from 2019

Abstract This article is the first annual highlights in coagulation article published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. Its purpose is to review the most important coagulation literature from 2019. In the review, the authors discuss the recent Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologist's clinical practice advisory on management of perioperative bleeding and hemostasis, heparin monitoring and protamine dosing, anti-platelet therapy, factor concentrate therapy, and coagulopathy during mechanical circulatory support. The goal of this article is to provide readers with an overview of the most relevant cardiothoracic anesthesiology coagulation literature published in scientific journals in 2019. The complexity of coagulation management has increased in recent years with rapid changes in coagulation monitoring devices, coagulation therapies, and anti-coagulant drugs. In this first edition, the authors cover multiple topics including the newly published Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Clinical Practice Improvement advisory on bleeding and hemostasis, heparin monitoring and protamine dosing, viscoelastic coagulation testing, anti-platelet drugs and their monitoring, coagulation factor therapy, and coagulopathy during mechanical circulatory support.