Optimal patient blood management in cardiac surgery using viscoelastic point-of-care testing Response to: Routine use of viscoelastic blood tests for diagnosis and treatment of coagulopathic bleeding in cardiac surgery: updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Editor—We read with interest the study of Serraino and Murphy¹ on routine use of point-of-care (POC) testing for diagnosis and treatment of coagulopathy in cardiac surgery patients. During cardiac surgery major blood loss is common. There is general agreement that less bleeding and optimal patient blood management are essential determinants of postoperative outcome.² The conclusion of Serraino and Murphy that POC viscoelastic testing lacks clinical effectiveness is an important negative finding, but should not disparage the significance of efficiently reducing the rate of unnecessary transfusions.

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