The Utility of the Validated Intraoperative Bleeding Scale in Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery: A Single-Center Prospective Study

Study Design Prospective, single-center study. Objective To evaluate the clinical relevance of the validated intraoperative bleeding severity scale (VIBe) in thoracolumbar spine surgery. Methods Adult patients aged 18 through 88 undergoing elective decompression, instrumentation, and fusion of the thoracolumbar spine were prospectively enrolled after informed consent was provided and written consent was obtained. Validated intraoperative bleeding severity scores were recorded intraoperatively. Univariate analysis consisted of Student T-tests, Pearson's chi(2) Tests, Fisher's Exact Tests, linear regression, and binary logistic regression. Multivariable regression was conducted to adjust for baseline characteristics and potential confounding variables. Results A total of N = 121 patients were enrolled and included in the analysis. After adjusting for confounders, VIBe scores were correlated with an increased likelihood of intraoperative blood transfusion (beta = 2.46, P = .012), postoperative blood transfusion (beta = 2.36, P = .015), any transfusion (beta = 2.49, P < .001), total transfusion volume (beta = 180.8, P = .020), and estimated blood loss (EBL) (beta = 409, P < .001). Validated intraoperative bleeding severity scores had no significant association with length of hospital stay, 30-day readmission, 30-day reoperation, 30-day emergency department visit, change in pre- to post-op hemoglobin and hematocrit, total drain output, or length of surgery. Conclusion The VIBe scale is associated with perioperative transfusion rates and EBL in patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery. Overall, the VIBe scale has clinically relevant meaning in spine surgery, and shows potential utility in clinical research. Level of evidence Level II.