THE APPROACH TO A PATIENT WITH A BLEEDING DISORDER: FOR THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

Normal Hemostasis requires the interaction of platelets and the clotting cascade with normal blood vessels and supporting tissues. Bleeding problems and easy bruising are commonly encountered clinical problems. Assessment of these patients is a multistep evaluation process that involves a complete detailed history, thorough physical examination and relevant laboratory evaluation. Many disorders are usually relatively straight forward to diagnose, but in other disorders, patients may have “hidden” signs and symptoms making diagnosis more difficult. A meticulous approach must be used to plan the first steps of management.