Coagulopathy Bleeding Research Articles

Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and adult respiratory distress syndrome: Life-threatening complications of hysteroscopy

A 23-year-old, healthy woman underwent hysteroscopy during which Hyskon solution was injected into the uterine cavity. Soon afterward she developed a bleeding coagulopathy followed by acute respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary edema, necessitating endotracheal intubation and artificial ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure. This rare complication of hysteroscopy was most probably due to the injection of Hyskon solution.

Laboratory Evaluation of Hemorrhagic Coagulopathies in Small Animal Practice

Assessment of animals with a suspected hemorrhagic diathesis of unknown cause(s) should be methodical. Most acquired coagulopathies result from thrombocytopenia. A platelet estimate (from a blood smear) and/or a platelet count on a fresh blood sample therefore are useful first steps in case evaluation. If thrombocytopenia is present, the most likely causes are immune-mediated destruction of platelets, DIC, or megakaryocytic hypoplasia. These diagnoses can be pursued by further test, including antiplatelet antibody assays (for example, the platelet factor 3 tests or an ELISA test), measurement of FDP, and bone marrow biopsy, respectively. If the platelet count is normal, a buccal mucosa bleeding time test is a useful second step. If this is prolonged, most likely causes are vWD or a thrombocytopathy (functional platelet defect). von Willebrand's disease can be diagnosed by measurement of vWf concentration or activity. A normal bleeding time does not exclude a diagnosis of vWD, but suggests that the functional activity of vWf is not compromised markedly. If the bleeding time is normal, APTT and PT should be measured. A prolonged APTT with normal PT, in the clinical setting, implies a deficiency of factor XI, IX, or VIII. A prolonged PT with normal APTT indicates factor VII deficiency. Prolongation of both APTT and PT usually is caused by a deficiency of several factors and is seen most often in cases with vitamin K deficiency or antagonism. Obviously, if a particular cause is suspected from the case history or for other reasons, appropriate tests should be evaluated at the beginning. If these do not confirm the provisional diagnosis, the just-described protocol might be a useful one to follow.

Ilio-psoas hematoma--its detection, and treatment with special reference to hemophilia.

Pain around the hip joint and femoral neuropathy in a patient with a bleeding coagulopathy should alert the physician to the possibility of an iliopsoas haematoma. Unfortunately this diagnosis is often missed. Clinically, reduced hip motion, a mass in the iliac fossa and alteration in the motor and sensory function of the femoral nerve may be noted. If the pain is on the right side, appendicitis must be excluded. Ultrasound is the diagnostic aid of choice, being more sensitive than computerized tomography or radioisotope investigations. Treatment should be gradual, gentle and protracted to avoid recurrent bleeding episodes.