Coagulation Disorders and Surgery

Hypocoagulability refers to an inherited or acquired disorder of coagulation that could result in perioperative hemorrhage. Primary hemostasis refers to the activity of platelets in coagulation; platelets can be first responders to an area of vascular damage and become activated following exposure to subendothelial collagen or other soluble factors. Secondary hemostasis is the process of formation of a fibrin clot from the activation of soluble plasma coagulation factors. An evaluation of primary hemostasis starts with measurement of the platelet count. Global assessments of coagulation using whole blood analysis have become popular in veterinary medicine over the past 20 years. If patients are bleeding, consideration should be given to transfusions that include red blood cells, either as packed red blood cells, or as part of a transfusion of fresh or stored whole blood.