Hemostasis

Platelet numbers are interpreted with respect to the reference interval for that species. If reference intervals are not available, then we use the literature for guidelines on interpreting platelet counts. A decrease in platelet numbers (below the lower reference limit) is called thrombocytopenia, whereas an increase in platelet numbers (above the upper reference limit) is […]

Vessel wall defects are infrequently seen in veterinary medicine and can be inherited or acquired. Inherited Inherited defects involving the vessel wall include Ehlers-Danlos and Marfan’s syndrome. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Ehlers-Danlos syndome, also called cutaneous asthenia (“rubber puppy disease”), is an uncommon, inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by loose, hyperextensible, fragile skin. This defect has been recognized in

Transfusion medicine is the mainstay of therapy of hemostatic disorders, whether inherited or acquired. However, other compounds can also be used to facilitate hemostasis, including topical materials such as “fibrin glue”, gelfoam and topical thrombin (all of which aid with localized hemostasis), surgical hemostasis (tying off vessels appropriately, the use of electrocautery to cauterize small

A series of consensus statements on transfusion reactions established by Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine has been published, including definitions and types of reactions (Davidow et al 2021a), preventing and monitoring transfused patients for reactions (Davidow et al 2021b), methods for detecting certain transfusion reactions and recommendations for treatment (Odenuyo et al 2021).

Cross-match The cross-match procedure determines whether donor blood is compatible (or incompatible) with recipient blood. A variant of this test is the mare-foal or mare-stallion crossmatch or incompatibility testing. In relation to blood transfusions, a cross-match should be performed in the following situations: Naturally occurring pathogenic antibodies to foreign blood group antigens are present. This

Blood types (or groups) are determined by specific antigens found on the surface of erythrocytes. In humans, there is the ABO system of blood types, whereas animals have a variety of different blood types. Knowledge of blood types in the different species is important as transfusion of incompatible blood (the donor animal has a different

Whole blood is collected from a donor animal for blood transfusion purposes into a blood bag containing citrate phosphate dextrose as the anticoagulant. Donor animals should be selected with care and strict attention should be paid to the blood collection technique to maintain sterility at all times. A single blood transfusion bag can be used if collection

Whole blood is collected from a suitable donor animal for blood transfusion purposes into a blood bag containing citrate phosphate dextrose as the anticoagulant. Once the blood has been collected, it can be stored at 4°C and used in its natural state or can be converted into a variety of components. These blood components are packed

Transfusion medicine is the mainstay of treatment of animals with disorders of hemostasis. Naturally, when performing surgery on an animal with a hemostatic defect, strict attention should be paid to surgical hemostasis and the use of topical hemostatic agents, such as gelfoam or topical thrombin, may be useful. However, these procedures should never be relied upon to

Hemostatic disorders occur in all pathways of hemostasis and can be inherited or acquired. They are usually recognized clinically by excessive hemorrhage. History, signalment and clinical signs can guide a clinician as to the likely underlying disorder. For instance, disorders of primary hemostasis are characterized by mucosal hemorrhage and small bleeds (petechiae) when there is thrombocytopenia