Description:
Life threatening classical hematology disorders including the thrombotic microangiopathies and coagulopathies in critically ill patients often present as medical emergencies, requiring rapid evaluation and treatment to optimize outcomes. Dr. Jennifer McIntosh will discuss microangiopathic emergencies in pregnancy focusing on the diagnosis and management of preeclampsia with severe features, HELLP Syndrome, and DIC, which are the most common causes of microangiopathic emergencies. She will also review when other microangiopathic emergencies (Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy, TTP, Complement Mediated microangiopathy, antiphospholipid syndrome) should be considered instead. Dr. Shruti Chaturvedi will discuss the critical first 24 hours in evaluating a patient with a possible thrombotic microangiopathy focusing on how to rapidly identify and treat patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) and complement mediated TMA. Dr. Beverley Hunt will review consumptive coagulopathy in the ICU covering conditions ranging from the hemostatic effects of major hemorrhage to the use of extracorporeal circuits and true disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). She will review the current understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of common consumptive coagulopathy in critically ill patients, with particular emphasis on DIC because it is a common and often life-threatening condition in critical care patients.