Exploring Viscoelastic Testing and Patient Blood Management at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025

Desiree Chappell and Mike Grocott are joined by Klaus Gorlinger, Medical Director at TEM Innovations GmbH in Munich, Germany at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025. This conversation focuses on patient blood management (PBM) and viscoelastic testing (VET) delving into the significance of VET in managing bleeding during surgeries, the evolution of testing techniques, and their impact on patient outcomes. Klaus explains the importance of whole blood testing over standard coagulation tests and discusses different protocols and global practices around this technology. The conversation also highlights the economic benefits of reducing unnecessary blood transfusions and improving patient care through advanced hemostasis testing. Further reading: "Last year at the ASA, we presented a poster, about the need to analyze what does changing from just to transfuse by a goal direct approach on mortality in cardiac surgery. And it reduces mortality by 47%" Reference: Goerlinger K, Petricevic M, Lier H, Karkouti K. Effect of Viscoelastic Testing on Mortality in Cardiovascular Surgery, Lung Transplant, and ECMO: A Meta-Analysis. (Abstract 2050). The Anesthesiology Annual Meeting; Oct 19, 2024, Philadelphia, USA. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/20301/presentation/31677.