Postoperative fibrinolysis diagnosed by thrombelastography

Thrombelastography is a useful method for the monitoring of bedside coagula tion, especially for fibrinolysis, We report a case where thrombelastograph y facilitated early detection of fibrinolysis with significant clinical ble eding in a patient immediately following hip replacement surgery. The early diagnosis enabled institution of antifibrinolytic therapy and monitoring o f the patient's response. It is likely to have led to less blood product tr ansfusion and may possibly have prevented unnecessary surgical re-explorati on.