Recent research in the management of haemorrhage has led to several changes in clinical practice. Evidence is accumulating that point-of-care testing results in fewer transfusions, improved patient outcomes, and reduced hospital costs. However, there is still insufficient high quality evidence to support transfusion guidelines and algorithms based on point-of-care tests alone, and more robust studies are needed. The implementation of point-of-care testing requires institutional support and senior clinical leadership to realise the benefits, with educational programmes, audit, and feedback regarding transfusion practice. A change in philosophy is required, from performing testing only when there is an obvious bleeding problem, towards the concept of routinely monitoring high-risk patients throughout the surgical procedure. This informs clinical practice, establishes normal ranges for that population, identifies patients at risk and allows early identification and treatment of evolving coagulopathy.
© 2014 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.