THROMBOELASTOGRAPHY (TEG)

General Principle

• A small cuvette is rotated to simulate sluggish venous flow and stimulate clot formation.

• The resistance to rotation due to the mass of the clot is measured, which allows the kinetics of clot formation to be assessed.

• This provides information about clot formation and breakdown, and also reflects problems with coagulation cascade and platelet function.

• This is displayed graphically as time (min) versus thromboelasticity (in mm).

Explaining the numbers

• R - reaction time - latency until clot formation begins as defined by an amplitude of 2 mm

• K - K value - time from the end of R until the clot reaches 20mm – reflects speed of initial clot formation

• α - alpha angle - the angle tangent to the curve at K

• MA - maximum amplitude - reflects total clot strength

• Lysis time (LY30) - % lysis after 30 min - reflects the fibrinolysis stage of clot development



Nick Mark MD @nickmmark



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