Key clinical point: The use of thromboelastography to guide transfusion decisions significantly reduced both transfusions and rates of late rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis, severe coagulopathies, and variceal bleeding.

Major finding: In the thromboelastography group, only four (13.3%) patients underwent blood product transfusions, compared with every patient in the conventional transfusion group (P less than .001). The 6-week rebleeding rates were 10% and 36.7%, respectively (P less than .001).

Study details: A randomized clinical trial of 60 patients with cirrhosis, severe coagulopathy, and variceal bleeding.

Disclosures: The researchers did not disclose funding sources. They reported having no conflicts of interest.