title: [Haemostatic testing prior to elective surgery? Yes!].
abstract: Haemorrhagic disorders must be excluded prior to any operation or other invasive procedure that has the potential to involve serious bleeding. When assessing the individual risk of bleeding, screening tests of hemostasis must be combined with the patient's clinical history and symptoms, and any history of bleeding must be explored under direct medical supervision using a standardized questionnaire. However, this bleeding history is neither very specific, nor is it particularly sensitive. Screening tests that have been found to be useful include platelet count, activated partial thrombo plastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT) and clottable fibrinogen. No reliable, sensitive and specific screening test is however available today to screen for platelet dysfunction or von Willebrand disease. A specialized coagulation laboratory should be involved when the bleeding history or laboratory screening indicate a potential haemorrhagic disorder.
authors.affiliation: Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Institut für Hämostaseologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Bremserstrasse 79, 67063 Ludwigshafen.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haubelt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loreth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matzdorff
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peetz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pindur
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schinzel
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Seyfert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hellstern
mesh_terms: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000032:analysis; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010976:Platelet Count; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D005340:Fibrinogen