Hamostaseologie 2022; 42(06): 400-408
DOI: 10.1055/a-1938-1984
Review Article

Global Coagulation Testing in Acute Care Medicine: Back to Bedside?

Michael Caspers
1   Department of Medicine, The Institute for Research in Operative Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany
2   Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Traumatology, Cologne-Merheim Medical Centre (CMMC), Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany
,
Johannes Fabian Holle
3   Department of Neurology, Cologne-Merheim Medical Centre (CMMC), Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany
,
Ulrich Limper
4   Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Cologne-Merheim Medical Centre (CMMC), Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany
,
Matthias Fröhlich
2   Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Traumatology, Cologne-Merheim Medical Centre (CMMC), Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany
,
Bertil Bouillon
2   Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Traumatology, Cologne-Merheim Medical Centre (CMMC), Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objectives Detailed and decisive information about the patients' coagulation status is important in various emergency situations. Conventional global coagulation testing strategies are often used to provide a quick overview, but several limitations particularly in the trauma setting are well described. With the introduction of direct oral anticoagulations (DOACs), a milestone for several disease entities resulting in overall improved outcomes could be reached, but at the same time providing new diagnostic challenges for the emergency situation.

Design As an alternative to conventional coagulation tests, there is increasing clinical and scientific interest in the use of early whole blood strategies to provide goal-directed coagulation therapies (GDCT) and hemostatic control in critically ill patients. Viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) were therefore introduced to several clinical applications and may provide as a bedside point-of-care method for faster information on the underlying hemostatic deficiency.

Conclusion The use of VHA-based algorithms to guide hemostatic control in emergency situations now found its way to several international guidelines for patients at risk of bleeding. With this qualitative review, we would like to focus on VHA-based GDCT and review the current evidence for its use, advantages, and challenges in the two different clinical scenarios of trauma and intracerebral bleeding/stroke management.



Publication History

Received: 02 June 2022

Accepted: 02 September 2022

Article published online:
22 December 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 
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