S Afr J Surg
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At the turn of the century, a significant advance in the rapidly expanding field of rotational thrombelastography (ROTEG), known at present as thrombelastometry or ROTEM analysis, was developed at the Ludwig-Maximillian University in Munich. The measuring unit is operated by a laptop computer. ⋯ It also provides a useful guide in the choice of an appropriate therapeutic option in the bleeding patient, reducing costs by avoiding administration of costly component therapy such as fresh-frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, platelet concentrates or antifibrinolytic agents. As well as being useful in monitoring anticoagulant therapy and the use of pharmacological agents, ROTEM is a valuable research tool in the field of hypercoagulability, fibrinolysis, factor XIII activity and the ultimate phases of the blood coagulation process.