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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Leveraging Turbidity and Thromboelastography for Complementary Clot Characterization
Published on: June 4, 2020
Activated clotting time of thrombelastography (T-ACT) predicts early postinjury blood component transfusion beyond
Hunter B Moore1, Ernest E Moore2, Theresa L Chin1
1University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.
Introduction:
Rapid thrombelastography (rTEG) has been advocated as a point-of-care test to manage trauma-induced coagulopathy. rTEG activated clotting time (T-ACT) results become available much sooner than other rTEG values, thus offering an attractive tool to guide blood component transfusion in a hemorrhagic shock. We hypothesize that patients with a prolonged T-ACT require replacement of platelets (Plts) and cryoprecipitate (Cryo) in addition to plasma to correct trauma-induced coagulopathy.
Methods:
A prospective trauma registry was reviewed for patients with an r-TEG available within 3 hours of injury. Blood was collected via a standardized protocol for rTEG. Patients were stratified into quartiles: low (T-ACT <113 seconds), mild (T-ACT 113-120 seconds), moderate (T-ACT 121-140 seconds), and severe (T-ACT >140 seconds). Transfusion requirements were evaluated during the first 6 hours after injury.
Results:
A total of 114 patients were included. Median age was 39 years, injury severity score 20, base-deficit 10, and mortality rate 13%. T-ACT cohorts had similar age (P = .11), injury severity score (P = .55), and base deficit (P = .38). An T-ACT >140 seconds predicted a lower angle (median 57 vs 70, P < .000) and maximum amplitude (46 vs 60, P = .002), and patients received more Cryo (0.5 vs 0, P ≤ .000) and Plts (1 vs 0, P = .006).
Conclusion:
Injured patients requiring resuscitation with blood transfusion that have a T-ACT >140 seconds are polycoagulopathic and may benefit from early Cryo and Plts.
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