Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2018 Jan 8;3(1):e000140. doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2017-000140. eCollection 2018.

# Is thromboelastography (TEG)- based resuscitation better than empirical 1:1 transfusion?

Howley I, Haut E, Jacobs L, Morrison J, Scalea T

Thomboelastography (TEG) is a whole blood measure of coagulation which was originally described in the 1950s. However, it has only been in the last few decades that assays have become accessible and viable as a point-of-care test. Following the observation that hemorrhagic shock is associated with an intrinsic coagulopathy, TEG has been used as a method of diagnosing specific coagulation defects in order to direct individualized blood products resuscitation. An alternative transfusion strategy is the administration of fixed ratio products, a paradigm borne out of military experience. It is unknown which strategy is superior and this topic was debated at the 36th Annual Point/Counterpoint Acute Care Surgery Conference. The following article summarizes the discussants points of view along with a summary of the evidence.Level of evidence: Level III.