Postoperative fibrinolysis diagnosed by thrombelastography.

Thrombelastography is a useful method for the monitoring of bedside coagulation, especially for fibrinolysis. We report a case where thrombelastography facilitated early detection of fibrinolysis with significant clinical bleeding in a patient immediately following hip replacement surgery. The early diagnosis enabled institution of antifibrinolytic therapy and monitoring of the patient's response. It is likely to have led to less blood product transfusion and may possibly have prevented unnecessary surgical re-exploration.