Critical care clotting catastrophies.

Oregon Health & Science University, Hematology L586, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97201-3098, USA. delought@ohsu.edu

Coagulation problems are very common in intensive care patients. It is important to recognize potential problems, perform a rapid assessment, and start therapy. The author reviews general clinical and laboratory approaches to diagnosis and treatment of the bleeding patient and to correction of coagulopathies. This review outlines a set of often catastrophic coagulation problems, which may present both thrombotic and bleeding challenges. These include heparin induced thrombocytopenia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

PMID: 15992672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]