A Randomized Trial of TEG versus Conventional Coagulation Tests to Guide Massive Transfusion in Bleeding Trauma Patients: Interview with Dr. Gene Moore

Viscoelastic assays for assessing the coagulation system have been around for decades, but have recently seen a surge in interest and research in the trauma community. Thromboelastography (TEG) and Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) provide a real-time assessment of multiple aspects and factors involved in clot initiation, development and maturation, and then breakdown or lysis. Many trauma centers have begun incorporating viscoelastic testing in the initial evaluation of injured patients, particularly among those with known or suspected active bleeding. Although TEG/ROTEM have many theoretical advantes compared to standard or conventional coagulation assays, there have been no prospective controlled trials comparing them head to head until now. We interviewed Dr. Gene Moore, the senior author and principal investigator on a recently published prospective randomized trial comparing the utility and associated outcomes of massive transfusions guided by TEG versus those guided by conventional coagulation assays. This is a must-read paper for all trauma providers, and Dr. Moore provides some great additional insights into the study design, results, and interpretation.Supplemental Materials:Goal-directed Hemostatic Resuscitation of Trauma-induced Coagulopathy: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing a Viscoelastic Assay to Conventional Coagulation Assays Annals of Surgery: June 2016 - Volume 263 - Issue 6 - p 1051–1059EAST Online Education Activity  - TEG/ROTEM Testing in Trauma & Transfusion Management