[Update on point-of-care-based coagulation treatment : Systems, reagents, device-specific treatment algorithms]. / Update der Point-of-care-basierten Gerinnungstherapie : Systeme, Reagenzien, gerätespezifische Behandlungsalgorithmen.

Viscoelastic test (VET) procedures suitable for point-of-care (POC) testing are in widespread clinical use. Due to the expanded range of available devices and in particular due to the development of new test approaches and methods, the authors believe that an update of the current treatment algorithms is necessary. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the currently available VET devices and the associated reagents. In addition, two treatment algorithms for the VET devices most commonly used in German-speaking countries are presented.

Hemotherapy algorithms for coagulopathic cardiac surgery patients.

In patients undergoing cardiac surgery, perioperative coagulopathy and the use of allogenic blood products are independently associated with increased mortality and major perioperative cardiac and non-cardiac adverse events. Hemotherapy should be based on specific hemotherapy algorithms rather than "clinical judgments". However, whether hemotherapy should be based on "classical" conventional laboratory coagulation analyses or Point-of-Care (POC) measures is discussed controversially. There is very good evidence from retrospective studies and prospective randomized controlled trials that the implementation of viscoelastic and aggregometric measurements in hemostatic therapy algorithms may reduce the transfusion rate of allogenic blood products. Furthermore, data suggest improved clinical outcome. Unfortunately, the studied hemotherapy--algorithms are very complex and thus hard to integrate into daily practice. In close cooperation of three German University Hospitals, the authors developed and implemented two more comprehensive and practical hemotherapy algorithms that are based on either POC measures or conventional coagulation testing. Here we present and discuss the structure and limitations of these algorithms.

[Introduction into "Point-of-Care" testing: indications and limitations]. / Point-of-Care-Testing - Einführung in die Methodik: Indikationen und Limitationen.

The advancement of well known techniques in Point-of-Care coagulation diagnostics (e.g. thromboelastography/-metry) has lead to further distribution in perioperative coagulation management. By increasing user friendliness these devices have helped to expand the spectrum of coagulation diagnostics in daily clinical routine. But can they really be considered as the ne plus ultra in diagnosis of coagulopathy? In this article the authors would like to mark up indications as wells as limitations in Point-of-Care coagulation diagnostics.