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Surgical Intensive Care Medicine pp 463–471Cite as

Coagulation Abnormalities in Critically Ill Patients

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Abstract

Coagulation abnormalities are commonly found in critically ill patients. A myriad of altered coagulation parameters are often detectable, such as thrombocytopenia, prolonged global coagulation times, reduced levels of coagulation inhibitors, or high levels of fibrin split products. Each of these derangements in clotting may derive from a variety of different pathophysiological mechanisms. Proper identification of the underlying causes for these coagulation abnormalities is required, since various coagulation disorders may necessitate different diagnostic and therapeutic management strategies. This chapter reviews the most frequently occurring coagulation abnormalities in critically ill patients with emphasis on the differential diagnosis, the underlying pathogenetic pathways, and the appropriate management strategy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center F-4, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Marcel Levi MD

  2. Infectious Disease Division, The Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island-Brown University, Pawtucket, RI, USA

    Steven M. Opal MD

Authors
  1. Marcel Levi MD
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  2. Steven M. Opal MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcel Levi MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Critical Care; Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Division of Surgery, Burlington, Massachusetts, USA

    John M. O'Donnell

  2. Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Pr�-Card�o Hospital, Critical Care Medicine, University Hospital, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Flávio E. Nácul

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Levi, M., Opal, S.M. (2016). Coagulation Abnormalities in Critically Ill Patients. In: O'Donnell, J., Nácul, F. (eds) Surgical Intensive Care Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19668-8_34

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19668-8_34

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-19667-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-19668-8

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