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Objective:  This study aimed to document rotational thromboelastometric (ROTEM) characteristics of traumatized cats and to investigate associations between clinicopathological parameters and acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC). A secondary goal was to determine the relevance of autoheparinization in injured cats., Study Design:  Cats presenting with acute (<12 hours) trauma were eligible. Cats were allocated to the ATC group (≥2 hypocoagulable parameters) or non-ATC group (≤1 hypocoagulable parameter) based on ROTEM analysis. Clinicopathological parameters were compared between groups and regression was used to find variables associated with ATC. Heparinase-modified ROTEM (HepTEM) was used to assess for heparin effects in a subgroup., Results:  Fifty-three cats were included, and the incidence of ATC was 15%. Prolongation of both intrinsic and extrinsic clotting times (CT) was the most frequently altered ROTEM variable in the ATC group, but CT InTEM -prolongation also occurred in 47% of non-ATC cats. The incidence of autoheparinization, defined as concurrent CT InTEM prolongation and CT InTEM:HepTEM ratio >1.1, was 41% and was observed in both cats with and without ATC. None of the evaluated clinicopathological parameters were different between groups or associated with ATC., Conclusion:  Acute traumatic coagulopathy in cats is mainly characterized by prolonged CT. No relationship between clinicopathological variables and ATC was identified and prediction of ATC based on these variables was not possible. While autoheparinization is important in cats, it is not the sole cause for ATC., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective:  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) and identify associated clinical and laboratory parameters including rotational thromboelastometry., Study Design:  Dogs presenting within 6 hours after trauma were allocated to the ATC or non-ATC group based on thromboelastometry analysis (ex-tem S, in-tem S, fib-tem S). ATC was defined as ≥2 hypocoagulable parameters in 1 profile and ≥ 1 hypocoagulable parameter in an additional profile. Parameters used were ex-tem and in-tem clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), maximum clot firmness (MCF), maximum lysis and fib-tem MCF. Clinical and laboratory parameters at presentation, animal trauma triage (ATT) score, transfusion requirement and outcome were compared. Logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with ATC., Results:  Eleven of 33 dogs presented with ATC and showed ex-tem CT and CFT prolongation and reduced MCF amplitude in all profiles (all p <  0.001). pH ( p =  0.043) and potassium concentration ( p =  0.022) were significantly lower and bleeding ( p =  0.027) and plasma transfusions (p =  0.001 ) more common in dogs with ATC. Time after trauma ( p =  0.040) and Animal Trauma Triage score ( p =  0.038, including haematocrit as confounding factor) were associated with the presence of ATC., Conclusion:  Acute traumatic coagulopathy is more common in traumatized dogs than previously reported. Acute traumatic coagulopathy was associated with acidosis, Animal trauma triage score, time after trauma and higher transfusion needs. Coagulation abnormalities include ex-tem CT and CFT prolongations and decreased clot strength., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective:  The aim of this study was to describe coagulation abnormalities and incidence of acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) in traumatized cats over the first 24 hours after admission., Study Design:  This was a prospective observational study at the university teaching hospital including 26 cats with acute (<5 hours) trauma. Blood was sampled for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) parameters at presentation and 6 hours/24 hours thereafter. Rotational thromboelastometry tracings were defined as hypo- or hypercoagulable if ≥ 2 of the following parameters were above or below institutional reference intervals: clotting time, clot formation time (CFT), maximum clot firmness, maximum lysis or maximum clot elasticity. Hypocoagulability at presentation was defined as ATC. Injury severity scores, treatment and survival to hospital discharge were retrieved from patient records., Results:  The incidence of ATC was 15% and the most common ROTEM abnormalities in cats with ATC were clotting time and CFT prolongation in both extrinsic and intrinsic ROTEM profiles. After 24 hours, compared with presentation, significantly more cats were hypercoagulable ( p  = 0.047) and none of the cats showed hypocoagulopathy. Cats with ATC received significantly more blood transfusions ( p  = 0.008)., Conclusion:  The incidence of ATC in cats is higher than previously reported. Clotting time and CFT prolongations seem to be more common than hyperfibrinolysis and 53% of the cats became hypercoagulable within 24 hours. While the clinical relevance of ATC in cats needs to be investigated, cats diagnosed with ATC required significantly more blood transfusions., Competing Interests: None declared., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)