Improving decision making through presentation of viscoelastic tests as a 3D animated blood clot: the Visual Clot

Point-of-care viscoelastic coagulation tests are used increasingly and enable physicians to run precise whole blood coagulation diagnostics. However, the somewhat complicated and abstract presentation of results may hinder these advantages. For this reason, we developed the Visual Clot as an alternative mode of presentation for thrombelastometric data. An algorithm takes existing parameters from rotational thromboelastometry and creates a visual representation in the form of an animated blood clot named 'Visual Clot'. In a prospective international dual-centre study, 60 physicians were presented with rotational thromboelastometry results in the standard way or as a Visual Clot. They were then asked to make therapeutic decisions based on pathological findings. Overall proportion of correct therapeutic decisions was median (IQR [range] 100 (83-100 [39-100]) % for Visual Clot vs. 44 (25-50 [0-83]) % for standard rotational thromboelastometry presentation of results, p < 0.001. Mixed regression models yielded a mean OR (95%CI) 22.1 (13.4-36.5), p < 0.001 for correct decisions with the Visual Clot compared with standard rotational thromboelastometry, with an 18.7 (16.4-21.1), p < 0.001 second decrease in decision time. Perceived cognitive work-load was lower, and participants rated their diagnostic confidence to be higher with the Visual Clot, both p < 0.001. Although correct interpretation of standard rotational thromboelastometry results depended on previous rotational thromboelastometry knowledge and experience, Visual Clot interpretation did not. The Visual Clot improved rotational thromboelastometry-based therapeutic decisions, as pathologies can be recognised more rapidly and accurately. These findings underline the significance of an alternative additional visualisation technique that simplifies the interpretation of abstract standard data.