title: Thrombelastography guides transfusion strategy.
abstract: During surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, coagulation may be impaired and the use of thrombelastography (TEG) is described in six patients with a perioperative blood loss of 3L. During surgery blood products were infused but not platelets. When the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, the TEG report demonstrated a lowered MA value indicating impaired function of platelets. The use of TEG may guide transfusion strategy.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesia, Gentofte Hospital and Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bay Nielsen
keywords: TEG; abdominal aortic aneurysm; blood loss; coagulation