Targeting blood products transfusion in trauma: what is the role of thromboelastography?

Targeting blood products transfusion in trauma: what is the role of thromboelastography?
Minerva Anestesiol. 2016 Sep 8;
Authors: Figueiredo S, Tantot A, Duranteau J
Abstract
Viscoelastic haemostatic assays (VHAs), mainly thromboelastography (TEG) and the rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), provide global information on clot formation and dissolution at patient bedside, allowing fast identification of coagulation disorders. In trauma patients, VHAs are able to predict massive transfusion and mortality. These devices might also be used for applying targeted administration of procoagulant factors (e.g. fibrinogen concentrate) as an alternative to or in addition to using predefined fixed ratios of red blood cells: platelets: fresh frozen plasma/cryoprecipitate. These goal-directed, individualized treatment algorithms seem to reduce blood product transfusion without deleterious effects on patient outcome. Nevertheless, a clear outcome benefit of using VHAs remains to be demonstrated in trauma patients.
PMID: 27606964 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Minerva Anestesiologica - September 10, 2016 Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Minerva Anestesiol Source Type: research