Coagulation management in trauma patients

Hemorrhage after traumatic injury results in coagulopathy which only worsens the situation. This coagulopathy is caused by depletion and dilution of clotting factors and platelets, increased fibrinolytic activity, hypothermia, metabolic changes and anemia. The effect of synthetic colloids in compensating the blood loss further aggravates the situation. Bedside coagulation monitoring permits relevant impairment of the coagulation system to be detected very early and the efficacy of the hemostatic therapy to be controlled directly. Administration of fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrations, clotting factors and probably antifibrinolytic agents is essential in restoring the impaired coagulation system in trauma patients.