Intraoperative coagulation activity--a defined group of trauma surgery patients

Analyses of blood coagulation in a defined group of patients before, during, and after trauma-surgery confirms an intraoperative trigger-mechanism, that causes postoperative thromboembolic complications. They also proof the correlation between extent of tissue-lesion and extent of triggering, this was previously presumed from the postoperative incidence of thromboembolic complications. Apart from the usual blood coagulation tests the following parameters where analysed: Factor VIII: C, Ristocetin-Co-factor, Factor Xa, AT III, TAT, Reptilase-time, tPA, D-dimers, and FPA. Simultaneously, it was shown, that a preoperative prophylaxis of thrombosis can prevent an intraoperative increase of Factor Xa, that plays a key role in postoperative thromboembolic complication. The increased intraoperative turnover of coagulation factors, which is necessary for physiologic blood coagulation, is not prevented.