Coagulation Disorders Tutorial
 
Introduction

Very Sociable Guy

Chest Pain

Girl with a Rash  

England 1944

Trouble Healing

Morning Stiffness

Bruises Easily

Shortness of Breath

Drug Interactions

Review

Thanks to

Quiz Please

Diagnosis today starts just the same as it always has, with the H & P.
  • It may sound trite, but without an index of suspicion and the H & P, you're nowhere.
  • The laboratory will only confirm your suspicions, it's not diagnostic.
    • With one exception, PT and aPTT will not be abnormal.
      • Prolonged aPTT in the case of anticardiolipin antibody syndrome.
    • D-dimer and other fibrin split products will be elevated with thrombus formation, but this is not especially diagnostic.
  • Venous Doppler studies are probably most diagnostic.
  • To the right is a movie of an ultrasound study showing a dangerous clot ready to break free.
  • Should the thrombus embolize to the lung, it isn't likely to be seen on a standard X-Ray.

So, the problem of positional stasis and thrombosis has been around for a while, interesting.

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