Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) enables improved outcomes in the pediatric trauma population

We evaluated the role of rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in managing acute traumatic coagulopathy in pediatric patients with trauma.

A retrospective cohort of pediatric patients with trauma from six institutes was studied during a 10-year period from 2007 to 2017. The associations between ROTEM-guided, goal-directed coagulation therapy and clinical outcomes were determined.

Three hundred thirty-two pediatric patients (age < 15 years) who were treated with ROTEM-guided, goal-directed coagulation therapy were matched to 332 control pediatric patients with conventional plasmatic coagulation tests. The ROTEM protocol was associated with a significant reduction in the interval for admission to acute traumatic coagulopathy treatment, less plasma transfusions in the first 24 hours of admission, and a favorable coagulopathy recovery. Furthermore, the median number of total hospital days was significantly shorter for patients who had the ROTEM protocol than for control patients.

There are significant favorable outcomes, including rapid acute traumatic coagulopathy treatment and a lower 24-hour blood product requirement, following ROTEM-guided, goal-directed coagulation therapy among pediatric patients with blunt trauma.