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)

D-dimers or FDPs

aPTT

Haptoglobin

Factor VIII level

Fibrinogen

Platelet count

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