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Updated: May 30, 2026
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Leveraging Turbidity and Thromboelastography for Complementary Clot Characterization
Published on: June 4, 2020
Assessment of coagulation in the obstetric population using ROTEM® thromboelastometry.
S Armstrong1, R Fernando, K Ashpole
1Department of Anaesthesia, University College Hospital, London, UK. drsaraharmstrong@gmail.com
International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
|August 13, 2011
Summary
Pregnancy significantly alters blood coagulation, showing hypercoagulability. ROTEM® thromboelastometry provides new reference ranges for managing bleeding during childbirth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Hematology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Assessing maternal coagulation for anesthesia and hemorrhage management is challenging.
- Thromboelastography (TEG) offers point-of-care assessment of blood clotting.
- This study aimed to establish ROTEM® reference limits in late pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine 95% reference limits for ROTEM® in third-trimester parturients.
- Compare these limits with those of non-pregnant women.
- Evaluate pregnancy-related hemostatic changes.
Main Methods:
- Collected blood samples from 120 pregnant and non-pregnant women.
- Utilized ROTEM® thromboelastometry with EXTEM®, INTEM®, and FIBTEM® tests.
- Measured coagulation time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), and maximal clot firmness (MCF).
Main Results:
- Analyzed data from 54 subjects per group.
- Parturients had lower hemoglobin and platelet counts.
- Pregnant women showed significantly lower INTEM® CT, INTEM® CFT, and EXTEM® CFT.
- MCF values were significantly higher in pregnant women (INTEM®, EXTEM®, FIBTEM®).
Conclusions:
- ROTEM® thromboelastometry confirms pregnancy-induced hypercoagulability.
- Presents formal ROTEM® reference ranges for parturient hemostatic management.
- Findings aid in clinical decision-making for obstetric bleeding.
