The role of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in the perioperative period in a warfarinized patient (case report)
Abstract
Warfarin overdose with unmeasurable values of the prothrombin time (PT-INR) is a significant problem in the preoperative preparation of the patient for acute invasive surgery. In contrast to conventional blood clotting assays, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) evaluates the coagulation profile of the whole blood and provides a more complex view of the coagulation status of the patient.
Thromboelastometry results are available within about 10 minutes and help us to provide targeted "bedside" therapy of coagulopathy in a bleeding patient. In our case report we describe a case of a patient with warfarin overdose and unmeasurable PT-INR values.
The patient was indicated for urgent gastroscopy because of haematemesis and abdominal surgery because of ileus. Haematemesis was stopped by ROTEM targeted treatment of coagulopathy and the operation was performed without bleeding complications with normal ROTEM despite the prolongation of PT-INR to 1.8.
Finally, we would like to say that ROTEM method can be used for rapid management of warfarin-induced coagulopathy and that surgery may be performed safely without any correction of PT-INR in case of normal ROTEM.