Thromboelastographic changes in healthy parturients and postpartum women

Thromboelastography (TEG) using disposable plastic cups and pins was performed with native whole blood (native group) in 17 nonpregnant volunteers, 134 healthy term pregnant women (> 36 wk gestation), and 69 postpartum women. Thromboelastography was also performed with celite-activated whole blood (celite group) in 15 nonpregnant female volunteers, 38 healthy term pregnant women, and 34 postpartum women. The thromboelastographic parameters r and K were significantly decreased in pregnant and postpartum women compared with nonpregnant women in both groups (P < 0.05). The maximum amplitude MA, elastic shear modulus, and alpha angles were significantly increased in pregnant and postpartum women compared with nonpregnant women in both groups (P < 0.05). The TEG coagulation index was significantly greater in pregnant and postpartum women compared with nonpregnant women in both groups. In this study, TEG showed that pregnancy is a hypercoagulable state and that postpartum women remain hypercoagulable through the first 24 h postdelivery. The use of celite in TEG accelerated the speed of TEG analysis.