Validation of Point-of-care Thromboelastography (TEG 6s) in Pediatric Patients

This study validates point-of-care thromboelastography (TEG 6s) — a bedside blood clotting test — in pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery. TEG 6s rapidly measures how well blood clots by analyzing the full coagulation process in real time. While it is widely used in adults, its accuracy and reliability in children have not been as thoroughly validated. Better, faster understanding of a child's clotting ability during surgery could help surgical teams make smarter, safer decisions about blood products and medications. Children under 18 years of age who are scheduled for elective surgery at Riley Hospital for Children are eligible. Children with known bleeding disorders, those taking medications that affect clotting, and children in foster care or who are wards of the court are excluded from the study. Blood samples will be collected during routine pre-operative blood draws, and TEG 6s results will be compared to standard laboratory coagulation tests. This research is significant because validating a point-of-care clotting test in children could improve surgical safety and blood management, reducing both the risks of dangerous bleeding and unnecessary blood transfusions in pediatric patients.