Abstract
An important aim of viscoelastic testing (VET) is to implement transfusion algorithms
based on coagulation test results to help reduce transfusion rates and improve patient
outcomes. Establishing a rapid diagnosis and providing timely treatment of coagulopathy
is the cornerstone of management of severely bleeding patients in trauma, postpartum
hemorrhage, and major surgery. As the nature of acute bleeding and trauma leads to
an unstable and tenuous physiologic state, conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) are
too slow to diagnose, manage, and also course correct any hemostatic abnormalities
that accompany an acute critical illness. Viscoelastic point-of-care tests strongly
correlate with results from standard laboratory tests but are designed to enable clinicians
to make timely, informed bleeding management decisions when time to intervene is critical.
These assays provide an individualized and goal-oriented approach to patient blood
management and are increasingly becoming involved in transfusion algorithms. The scope
of this review aims to evaluate the current literature on VETs and their impact on
actionable outputs in clinical decision making and their relationship to CCT.
Keywords
viscoelastic testing (VET) - blood transfusions - coagulopathy - conventional coagulation
tests (CCTs)
