Risk factors for failed reactivation of a labor epidural for postpartum tubal ligation: a prospective, observational study.

Study Objective: To determine specific risk factors that increase the failure rate of labor epidurals reactivated for use as a surgical block for postpartum tubal ligation.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Setting: Labor and delivery suite and operating rooms at the Women and Infants Center.

Early evaluation of acute traumatic coagulopathy by thrombelastography.

Posttraumatic coagulopathy is a major cause of morbidity. This prospective study evaluated the thrombelastography (TEG) system and PlateletMapping (Haemoscope Corporation, Niles, Ill) values posttrauma, and it correlated those values with transfusions and fatalities. After institutional review board approval, assays were performed on 161 trauma patients.