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Semin Thromb Hemost 2008; 34(5): 445-450
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1092874
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Point of Care Coagulation Tests in Critically Ill Patients

Carl-Erik Dempfle1 , Martin Borggrefe1
  • 1I. Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 October 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Point of care assays for various analytes have been established in critical care, including blood gas analysis, glucose, electrolytes, and markers for cardiac ischemia. Coagulation assays can also be adapted to the critical care environment by using whole blood as sample material and instruments optimized for point of care analysis. Available assays include the conventional coagulation assays, such as prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, assays for monitoring of anticoagulant drugs, global coagulation assays based on thrombelastography and viscosimetry, platelet function assays, and D-dimer assays. The main problem in point of care coagulation diagnostics is quality control. Point of care coagulation assays help in rapidly establishing a diagnosis, clarifying causes of bleeding, and monitoring therapy. Thrombelastography and similar assays extend the scope of coagulation diagnostics by visualizing the process of clot formation and extending the observation period to provide an estimate of clot stability versus mechanical and proteolytic attack.

KEYWORDS

Blood coagulation tests - critical care medicine - thrombelastography - D-dimer - platelet function

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Carl-Erik DempfleM.D. 

University Hospital of Mannheim, I. Department of Medicine

Theodor Kutzer Ufer 1-3, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany

Email: carl-erik.dempfle@med.ma.uni-heidelberg.de