The thrombelastographic diagnosis of hemostatic defects.

The thrombelastogram as designed by Hartert has now been in use for more than 30 years. Within 30 minutes, it provides a global account of clot formation and fibrinolysis or the time and degree of the interaction between the activators and inhibitors of both systems. On the basis of our own experience, it seems justifiable to assert that although its sensitivity to technical variables requires stringent laboratory control, the TEG offers a simple, reliable method of defining the key areas of hemostatic incompetence or for assessing the efficacy of a therapeutic program. Thrombelastographic hypercoagulability, which has deservedly been given prominence in the recent literature, may add an exciting dimension to the diagnostic spectrum of an elegantly conceived instrument.