Abstract:Objective To investigate the correlations and consistency between thromboelastography (TEG) and routine coagulation tests in patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery and to evaluate the application value of the two methods. Methods TEG, routine coagulation tests and platelet count (PLT) were performed in 98 patients after cardiac valve surgery. The correlations and consistency of R time, K value, alpha angle and maximum amplitude (MA) in TEG, and prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB) in coagulation tests and PLT were tested. Results R time was positively correlated to PT, INR and K value, but negatively correlated to α angle. K value was positively correlated to PT, INR and APTT, but negatively correlated to α angle and MA. α angle was negatively correlated to PT, INR and APTT, but positively correlated to MA. MA was positively correlated to PLT, while negatively correlated to APTT. The coagulation dysfunction in the patients after cardiac valve surgery was mainly manifested as the decrease of PLT and FIB with the prolonged PT, INR, APTT, TT and R time, and the decrease of MA. Conclusions There is a significant correlation between TEG and coagulation tests in patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery, which has an important effect upon coagulation function monitoring. The coagulation dysfunction in patients after cardiac valve surgery is mainly manifested as decreased platelet number, coagulation factors and fibrinogen.