Point-of-Care Testing in Acute Hemorrhagic and Thrombotic States.

Abstract

Monitoring of the coagulant state in patients who present with acute hemorrhagic or thrombotic conditions can be done by conventional coagulation assays; however, there is increasing attractiveness to the use of point-of-care tests that may yield not only a more rapid result than clinical laboratory testing but may also provide a more complete picture of the condition of the hemostatic system. Most widely used areas of study and application of point-of-care test concern patients who present with massive blood loss (such as in trauma or during major surgery), patients with a hypercoagulable state (such as in sepsis or other systemic inflammatory states), and patients who may need monitoring of antithrombotic treatment for acute coronary syndromes and revascularization procedures.