Platelet Confusion

The market of human blood transfusions is broken down into different uses: Elective Surgery, Emergency Surgery and Trauma. However, Hemopure seems to be suitable only for trauma cases due to its characteristics and, again, high price. To understand the reason, it is important to notice that, actually, only 10% of the 500,000 trauma victims receives RBCs “in the field” or at the site of accident, and the remaining 95% of these people does not receive transfusions until they arrive at the hospital. This delay was often cited as a major factor to the 20,000 trauma deaths. Therefore, since the expected market share for Biopure is 25% and assuming that the total blood transfusions remain stable, the potential market size for Hemopure is approximately $350,000,000. This size is based on an average price of $700 multiplied by 2,000,000 units (around 4 blood units are needed for each Trauma case).

In Cardone presentation, His main focus was on Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), (plasmas that come from the patient’s body, and is centrifuged to increase the concentration of platelets combined with remaining blood). He also discussed the potential advantages as well as potential drawbacks and uncertainties regarding the use of PRP injections to treat

A person with a normal platelet count has between 150,000 to 450,000 per each microliter of blood in the body. With Thrombocytopenia, patients have platelet counts that are less than 150,000 per microliter of blood. Platelets help to promote blood clotting. When a person receives a cut, or injures themselves, platelets come to the site of injury and bind to damaged vessel, thus causing a blood clot and helping to stop the bleeding that accompanies the injury (Williams). However, with a reduced platelet count, this function can be impaired. Patients can easily bruise or bleed due to even a slight bump, as well as experience nosebleeds. Bleeding gums are another symptom of Thrombocytopenia (MDS Foundation). Based on symptoms, doctors might decide to test a patient for Myelodysplastic

Platelets are not really cells in a way. As Marieb (2012) mentions,” They are fragments of bizarre multinucleate cells called megakaryocytes (meg″ah-kar′e-o-sītz), which pinch off thousands of anucleate platelet “pieces” that quickly seal themselves off from the surrounding fluids” (p. 344) The liver helps produce blood clotting factors. If it is not in working order then the person is not able to stop bleeding as easily as someone who has a properly working liver. There is a correction to help produce the proper amount of blood clotting factors and that is to take Vitamin K.

October 17, 2009, my world changed. My little brother, Brennan, was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, in short known as ITP. Normally, platelets are made in bone marrow and make their way through the blood stream and filtered out by the spleen. In Brennan’s case, his platelets are destroyed by his body causing his platelet count to drop to life threatening levels. Brennan’s platelet count from 2009, to today in 2016, has never gotten higher than 20,000; which means that he is at risk for spontaneous bleeding at any time. Due to this, Brennan is not allowed to participate in sports and many other physical activities.

Usually the decrease in the number of platelets results in bleeding inside the brain, bloody diarrhea, mucosal (inside mouth) bleeding, bruises, life-threatening bleedings, red spots on skin, and purplish skin due to bleeding underneath the skin.

Intravenous (IV) fluids were bolusing; however, when blood pressure was only obtainable manually and revealed that her blood pressure was 74/34, the decision was made to send the patient to the intensive care unit (ICU). There, coagulation studies revealed an elevated PT, PTT, D-dimer, and a decreased fibrinogen count. She received a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), a transfusion of two units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs), as well as cryoprecipitate therapy during her treatment in the ICU.

But nobody ever set any parameters on what to do if the hemoglobin ranged between 7 and 10. This left the physician to decide when to start a blood transfusion. The Johns Hopkins study revealed that because of this most physicians always erred in the side of “safety” by ordering a transfusion any time the hemoglobin was at or below 10.

People with ITP often have platelet counts below 20,000. As the number of platelets decreases, your risk of bleeding increases. The greatest risk is when your platelet count falls very low -- below 10,000 platelets per microliter. At this point, internal bleeding may occur despite a lack of any injury.

Although in most patients the withdrawal of TPO RA therapy is associated with a drop in platelet count to the baseline level, in

People with low platelet checks (thrombocytopenia) ought to be observed consistently. Blood or platelet transfusions might be important earlier or amid surgeries. Surgery might be expected to repair different deformities related with the condition. Difficulties of certain inherent heart abandons, (for example, quick pulse or liquid collection) might be treated with an assortment of medications. Respiratory contaminations ought to be dealt with energetically and early. In light of the danger of bacterial contamination of the heart lining (endocarditis) and valves, those with certain heart imperfections may require anti-infection agents before any

So, it is crucial for the nurse to measure the aPTT of patients receiving IV heparin infusion every six hours and change the dose accordingly to achieve therapeutic levels and prevent the risk of bleeding (Alquwaizani, Buckley, Adams, & Fanikos 2013). According to Alquwaizani, Buckley, Adams, & Fanikos (2013), “hemorrhage is the main concerning adverse event with all anticoagulants” (p. 83). Hence, nurses should carefully assess all patients receiving an anticoagulant therapy whether orally, IV infusion, or subcutaneous injections for signs of bleeding such as bruises, hematoma, tarry or bloody stool, and bright red blood emesis. In addition, they must strictly adhere to IV heparin administration protocol per their organization policy. Statistically, no significant cases of bleeding disorders associated with the IV administration have been reported. This is because two nurses are required to verify the dose and weight of the patient prior to and during the infusion to assure safe IV administration process. According to Alquwaizani, Buckley, Adams, & Fanikos (2013), “0-7 % of major bleeding, fatal bleeding about 0–3 %, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT, 1–5 %) are associated the major complications of Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) therapy” (p.

However, due to our further develop understanding of the intricate issues regarding the immune system’s reactions to incompatible donor blood cells, type o- blood is no longer automatically seen as being suitable in almost every case (Bb). If a person, who didn’t have one of the ABO blood types had a blood transfusion with type o- blood that will cause a mismatch that will be responsible in triggering a life threatening transfusion reaction (wm). Also, it may cause the patient to go into anaphylactic shock, which, if not injected with epinephrine right away will lead to death or unconsciousness

The platelet function assay performed in McLendon Clinical Laboratories at UNC Hospitals utilizes the PFA -100® system manufactured by Siemens Healthcare, Inc. (1, 2)

In 1877, Hayem provided a firm histologic basis for platelets; albeit he felt they were the origin of red blood cells and referred to them as “hematoblasts”. Bizzozero, in 1882, introduced the term “blood plates” and documented their importance in blood