Bleeding And Leukaemia

Question 0

What should you do if the patient is neutropenia or treatment is likely to induce significant bacteraemia?

Answer 0

Prophylactic antibiotic cover

Question 1

Describe the coagulation pathway

Answer 1

Intrinsic pathway: factors: 12, 11, 9 and 8.
Extrinsic pathway: factor 7 (the prothrombin time can be taken from this to see how long it takes for blood clotting to happen gives INR value).
These join and factor 10 and 5 are needed to form prothrombin which is then converted to thrombin. This then converts fibrinogen to fibrin.

Question 2

If patient requires surgical treatment what should the platelet count be below to require platelet cover? (Neutrophil count should also be checked)

Answer 2

50x10 power of nine per litre.