THE INCIDENCE AND CAUSE OF COAGULOPATHIES IN AN INTENSIVE-CARE POPULATION

We studied 235 patients admitted to an adult intensive care unit in or der to determine the incidence and cause of coagulation disturbances, Clinical coagulopathy, defined as bleeding unexplained by local or sur gical factors, was identified in 136% of patients. Laboratory evidence of coagulopathy was more common: a prothrombin time (PT) ratio greate r than or equal to 1.5 was found in 66% of patients and a platelet cou nt < 100 x 10(9)/l in 38% of patients. Both factors were predictive of excessive bleeding and poor outcome. In a retrospective analysis of p lasmas from 45 of the above patients who had PT ratios greater than or equal to 1.5 the most common cause was vitamin K deficiency (20%).