6,502
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
→Platelet Number
The platelet count is part of a routine coagulation profile or work-up for clotting abnormalities. It is also useful in the assessment of bleeding disorders occurind due to thrombocytopenia, uremia, liver disease or malignancies, and for monitoring the course of disease associated with bone marrow failure<sup>1</sup>.
The platelet count is part of a routine coagulation profile or work-up for clotting abnormalities. It is also useful in the assessment of bleeding disorders occurind due to thrombocytopenia, uremia, liver disease or malignancies, and for monitoring the course of disease associated with bone marrow failure<sup>1</sup>.
A platelet count is recommended in the evaluation of all critically ill animals and is vital for patients with bleeding
concerns. A platelet count can be obtained from an automated machine but an estimate of the platelet count can
be made at the bedside from a blood smear. The entire slide should first be scanned for evidence of platelet
clumping that will artificially reduce the platelet count. The number of platelets in several high power fields should
then be counted and an average calculated. There should be 10-15 platelets visible in one high power field (1000
x magnification with oil immersion). One platelet per high power field represents approximately 15,000 platelets
per microliter.
A normal platelet count is considered to be in the range of 200 – 500,000 and less than 150,000 is generally
considered as thrombocytopenia. Platelet counts less than 50,000 can be associated with increased bleeding
times (see below), platelet counts less than 20,000 may cause clinically concerning bleeding for surgical
procedures and platelet counts less than 5,000 are associated with spontaneous bleeding events. As a guideline
if there are > 5 platelets present per high power field bleeding is most likely not due to thrombocytopenia alone.
Platelet counts are susceptible to falsely low measurements as a result of blood collection and equipment error.
For this reason the diagnosis of thrombocytopenia should always be confirmed prior to initiating major therapy.
===Buccal Mucosal Bleeding Time===
===Buccal Mucosal Bleeding Time===