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CC-BY 4.0 · Surg J (N Y) 2016; 02(01): e29-e43
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1579657
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Why Do Patients Bleed?

Jennifer Curnow
1   Department of Clinical and Laboratory Hematology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research and Westmead Hospital, Sydney Centres for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Westmead, Australia
,
Leonardo Pasalic
1   Department of Clinical and Laboratory Hematology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research and Westmead Hospital, Sydney Centres for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Westmead, Australia
2   Pathology West, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead, Australia
,
Emmanuel J. Favaloro
1   Department of Clinical and Laboratory Hematology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research and Westmead Hospital, Sydney Centres for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Westmead, Australia
2   Pathology West, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead, Australia
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

02 November 2015

01 February 2016

Publication Date:
24 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Patients undergoing surgical procedures can bleed for a variety of reasons. Assuming that the surgical procedure has progressed well and that the surgeon can exclude surgical reasons for the unexpected bleeding, then the bleeding may be due to structural (anatomical) anomalies or disorders, recent drug intake, or disorders of hemostasis, which may be acquired or congenital. The current review aims to provide an overview of reasons that patients bleed in the perioperative setting, and it also provides guidance on how to screen for these conditions, through consideration of appropriate patient history and examination prior to surgical intervention, as well as guidance on investigating and managing the cause of unexpected bleeding.

Keywords

surgery - bleeding - hemostasis - platelet function - coagulation