coagulopathy
Pronunciation: ko-AG-yu-lop-ah-thee
A bleeding disorder characterized by impaired blood clotting, commonly seen in emergency surgery patients due to massive blood loss, hypothermia, or acidosis.
Full Definition
Coagulopathy refers to any defect in the blood clotting mechanism that leads to increased bleeding tendency or, less commonly, excessive clotting. In emergency surgery, coagulopathy typically develops as part of the 'lethal triad' alongside hypothermia and acidosis in severely injured patients. Acute coagulopathy can result from massive blood loss leading to dilutional thrombocytopenia and factor depletion, consumption of clotting factors in ongoing hemorrhage, or dysfunction of the coagulation cascade due to hypothermia and acidosis. Emergency management focuses on correcting the underlying causes while providing targeted therapy including fresh frozen plasma, platelets, cryoprecipitate, or factor concentrates. Recognition and prompt treatment of coagulopathy is essential to prevent exsanguination and improve survival in critically injured patients.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from specific clotting disorders like hemophilia or drug-induced anticoagulation when documenting etiology.
In Context
- "Laboratory values revealed severe coagulopathy with an INR of 2.8 and platelet count of 45,000." — Emergency surgery laboratory report
- "The trauma team addressed the patient's coagulopathy with targeted factor replacement and warming measures." — Trauma resuscitation documentation