Knowledge Check • The Blood Project

What is a left shift?

There are variable definitions but in general they include an increased number of band neutrophils (e.g., > 10%) and/or presence of less mature granulocytes in peripheral blood (myelocytes, metamayelocytes, promyeolyctes)

True or false: a scoring system disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) should ideally be used to diagnose DIC.

a

True

b

False

True or false: a diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) requires the recognition of an underlying disorder known to cause DIC.

a

True

b

False

Sorting exercise

Drag and drop the cards with clinical parameters on the top to the appropriate bucket on the bottom.

Left shift

Prothrombin time (PT)

Fibrinogen

aPTT

Platelet count

Factor VIII level

Haptoglobin

D-dimers or FDPs

Part of DIC scoring system

Not part of DIC scoring system

True or false: heparin should never be used to treat disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

a

True

b

False

True or false: replacement therapy in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) – for example, cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma – should be given prophylactically to patients with DIC whether or not they are bleeding or at increased risk for bleeding.

a

True

b

False