Sonoclot analysis in healthy children

Although use of the Sonoclot device (Sienco, Inc., Morrison, CO) has been r eported in isolated pediatric cases and in small reports in neonates, there are no published data for normal pediatric patients. As the device is used in situations of abnormal coagulation, such as cardiac and liver transplan tation surgery, our aim was to determine normal data ranges in healthy pedi atric surgical patients. Blood was withdrawn after anesthetic induction and the Sonoclot activated clotting time, rate of clot formation, time to peak amplitude, and peak amplitude was compared among four pediatric groups (<1 2 mo, 13-24 mo, 25-48 mo, 49 mo-9 yr) and an adult group. The Sonoclot acti vated clotting time in the <12-mo and the Adult groups were shorter than th e oldest group of children (P < 0.05), although all were within the anticip ated normal range, and there were no significant differences in clot rate, peak amplitude, and time to peak amplitude among groups without apparent tr ends with increasing age. These Sonoclot variables quantify adequate global clot formation in pediatric patients and will facilitate clinical coagulat ion management with appropriate pediatric normal ranges, avoiding the appli cation of extrapolated adult data to children.